They have been unable to return to their school in North West because the hostel is closed
COMMENT The National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) recently hosted a seminar under the theme, Curriculum in a fast-changing world: addressing short-term urgencies, laying foundations for long-term opportunities. As I was intrigued by this topic, I did not hesitate to contribute to this seminar when the invitation came my way to be among the speakers. I […]
The department of basic education has announced that the class of 2020 will sit for its final examinations later than usual.
Schools have been closed again. After months of doing schoolwork at home, not all parents think their children are ready to move to the next grade
The academic year will extend into 2021 in a ‘deliberately cautious approach’ as president confirms South Africa has world’s fifth-highest Covid-19 infection tally
Public sector unions say the rampant Covid-19 pandemic will have a devastating effect on how the government is run and services are delivered
Saving the academic year or saving lives?
Naptosa says it is irresponsible to keep schools open and that this is affecting the mental and physical health of teachers and learners
Citing cases such as a school to which only four learners returned, to be met by 20 teachers, the union said Covid-19 is wreaking havoc on learning
Coronavirus statistics are now people we know. The pandemic affects us all and it’s hard to see light at the end of the tunnel
In an amendment published in the Government Gazette on Tuesday, the basic education minister has made further changes to the school return dates for different grades
The province says the increase in Covid-19 cases has made it re-evaluate some decisions
Only grades six, 11 and R will return to school as expected, with the rest to be phased in later in the month
After a week’s delay, the basic education minister said the majority of schools are ready to open, but added that ‘the golden rule is, there will be no school that will resume, if not ready to do so’
The way in which Angie Motshekga has handled the reopening of schools has caused many people to lose confidence in her
Many schools are still not coronavirus ready for learners and teachers to return
Without protective equipment, schools in uMlazi, Pinetown and Zululand won’t meet the already delayed deadline for reopening
Protests by local suppliers have delayed PPE delivery, which according to the DBE, is one of the reasons the reopening of schools has been pushed back until June 8
Matrics and grade seven learners’ return to school has been delayed by one week
Personal protective equipment had not been delivered to all schools, some had not been cleaned and some provinces were still in a process of recruiting people who will be responsible for screening for Covid-19
Ahead of their opening, the basic education department has given schools three models to consider to ensure physical distancing
Last week the basic education minister was adamant that teachers will return to school on May 25, but some provinces say not all Covid-19 measures are in place to prevent its spread
What is most crucial is that the department of education communicates a clear and concise message to parents and caregivers to avoid unnecessary panic and further confusion
Evidence shows schools are not ready as the department pushes them to reopen in 10 days
Education minister says schools will reopen for Grades 7 and 12 on June 1, and she cannot guarantee that “no one will die”
Five organisations stand firm on ensuring schools have taken all safety measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus when learners, teachers and school management teams return
Some learners have taken the decision to drop out because they fear catching the coronavirus and have no faith that they will do well in their studies
Despite the government saying it could be June before schools begin reopening, some have already called teachers in and held parents’ meetings in preparation for opening sooner
Safety comes first, with a tentative June 1 deadline for grades seven and 12 to return to school
The basic education department is adopting a ‘phased-in’ approach to reopening schools, with some schools possibly starting up as early as next week
The Department of Basic Education is briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on the status of schooling during lockdown
Learners and teachers are keen to get back to class as government tries to find a workable solution