Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to give reasons why schools could not be reopened on Monday, as it was announced.
Motshekga will brief the media this morning in Sunrise Park near Rustenburg, North West.
Grades 7 and 12 learners were set to reopen today, but the department says they will now open on the 8th of this month.
But teachers unions, that include National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), amongst others, opposed this decision.
They say schools in most provinces are not ready, because of shortage of basic needs such as water and sanitation in others, insufficient infrastructure, such as additional classrooms, as well as PPE’s for both teachers and learners, in others schools.
Western Cape education MEC confirms schools will reopen today
Meanwhile, Western Cape MEC of Education, Debbie Schafer has confirmed that schools in the province will reopen on Monday to receive learners.
This is despite Sunday night’s announcement by the Department of Basic Education that schools will only open next Monday for Grade 7 and 12 learners.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga postponed a media briefing on the issue at the last minute on Sunday night.
Please note that the media briefing will take place tomorrow. Also note that schools will open tomorrow for SMT and teachers. Grade 12 and 7 learners are expected to return on 8 June @DBE_SA #schoolsreopening #angiemotshekga pic.twitter.com/SX24GimMG6
— Dr Reginah Mhaule (@ReginahMhaule) May 31, 2020
Her department then issued a statement about the new date, the 8th of June.
Schafer says her department can no longer allow schools to operate in a state of uncertainty.
She says the reopening of schools in the Western Cape today is in accordance with the Gazette promulgated last week by Motshekga, which stated that schools would reopen on 1 June.
“We have been engaged in discussions at a national level over the weekend and were awaiting the Minister’s announcement. Given that this has now been postponed, we can no longer allow our schools to hover in a state of uncertainty.”
“Western Cape schools have made a huge effort to get ready and this has been confirmed by an independent agency. Western Cape schools shall accordingly be open for learners. The week will be used primarily for the orientation of learners into the COVID-19 learning environment,”explains Schafer.
