South African schools are set to resume in June since Covid-19-induced closure late March due to the fear of the spread of the pandemic.
The Minister of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) Angie Motshekga said Tuesday night that schools will reopen on June 1, 2020.
Because of the phased-in approach restarting of the economy announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week, only grade 7s and 12s will be the first batch to return to schools. Other grades will be brought into stream gradually as and when restriction controls are eased and enough capacity built to avoid the outbreak of Covid-19.
Even though the guidelines of which grades must return and when, schools with sufficient room for some or all the grades will be permitted to back into normal schooling altogether.
As far as teachers are concerned, they are all expected to report to their respective posts regardless of which grades they teach. Motshekga said they will be needed to assist with sorting out all the necessary schools arrangements before the 1st of June.
Most governments
Most government schools are overcrowded and social distancing is a major concern. DBA reassured parents that the attendance of a 60-learner class for instance will be divided into three groups. The Minister said. The split of groups will make for better operations. Moreover, pupils will have access to all school classes to share since other grades will still be home.
Screening and PPEs
The Minister confirmed that all learners will receive a pair of washable face masks each from their schools.
Screening for body temperatures will be conducted daily. DBA reaffirmed that the schools nutrition feeding scheme will proceed as usual but with adjusted safety guidelines provided by the Department of Health.
Additionally, the other schools Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs] upplies will be made available as soon as actual schooling begins.
Labour unions have raised doubts over the safety of their members. They argue that the Department of Basic Education failed to meet its own deadline of delivering PPEs and valuable essentials needed when schools restart. .
This supply-as-needed (just in time) schools Covid-19 response materials was triggered by well over 1, 500 schools vandalised in different communities around the country.
To cater for schools’ population with co-morbidities, the Minister reiterated that cases will be handled differently as they arise.