WRAP | Motshekga announces schools will open for grades 7 and 12 and ‘small schools’ on 1 June – but parents may keep children home

The basic education department has wrapped up its address.

Basic education minister Angie Motshekga has finally announced the first part of phasing-in schooling, with grades 7 and 12 at all schools set to resume on 1 June. 

She said, however, that all “curriculum enrichment programmes will be put on hold until further notice. We want to focus on the core business of basic education which is curriculum implementation.”

“The amount of time available in a school day to will determine the duration of the period by subject. We will be using innovative methods about how we meet health, safety, social or physical distancing requirements. The trimmed curriculum will be sent to school for planning purposes,” she said in an address. 

The department said parents can decide to keep children at home if they deem sending children to school to be too risky. But, parents would have to properly register their children for home schooling.

The matric curriculum will not be trimmed because the final exams have already been set.

“Small schools” are those with low numbers of pupils. The entire school body may return so long as the school can meet health protocols, like physical distancing.   

Motshekga said that school nutrition programmes will resume on 1 June and will be ready to meet demand. She said the department was confident of providing water to all schools. Pupil transport will also resume, and pupils will have to sanitise and wear masks. 

Schools will start receiving teachers next Monday. A new school calendar will be gazetted soon.

The minister said the department received several submissions from parents and organisations to contribute to the resumption of schooling under lockdown. 

Meanwhile, the government will provide an update on special schools and early childhood development centres which will open at a later date. 

She said one obstacle has been looking out for staff and pupils who have pre-existing illnesses. “We also urge parents to work closely with schools to ensure that learners with pre-existing illness are also assisted… This matter is of paramount importance and we appeal for cooperation in this regard,” she said. 

The minister said 1 577 schools have been vandalised during the lockdown, majority in KwaZulu-Natal.

– Kerushun Pillay