As hundreds of teachers, pupils and parents took to the streets in Cape Town yesterday to protest against the reopening of schools, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga called for calm, asking people not to panic about Covid-19 at schools.
“We appeal to all school communities not to cause unnecessary panic. There’s no need for panic when a positive case is identified and a school is closed,” Motshekga said while addressing the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Concerned people lined the streets of Bishop Lavis, Steenberg, Belgravia carrying placards, demanding that the school year be suspended.
At a picket on the corner of Joe Marks Boulevard and Prince George Drive (M5), parents slammed the “premature” reopening of schools at the height of the deadly pandemic.
Several schools sent out a communiqué about the picket through social media on Wednesday, calling on parents, teachers and supporters to voice their concerns about the health and safety of children that they say is being compromised.
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This after a group of school principals wrote an open letter to the department and President Cyril Ramaphosa to object to the phased reopening of schools.
At the picket, demonstrators could be seen holding up signs reading, “Our children’s lives matter”, “Rather miss a grade than dig a grave” and “Teachers’ lives matter”.
The next phase of schools reopening is scheduled to take place next month, which will see a number of primary and high school pupils return to the classroom.
Angry parents at John Ramsay High School in Bishop Lavis questioned the hygiene protocols being followed at the school.
Parents joined by the UDF and Bishop Lavis Action Committee (Blac) claimed a teacher and a matric girl allegedly tested positive for Covid-19.
Arlene Barends of Blac says: “The children are fearful because the school was not closed, and in addition, there are toilets that don’t flush. The parents wanted to know why the school was not closed for cleaning. There are currently 95 matric learners, but today only 20 pitched because they are scared of getting the virus.”
UDF President Magommed Ismael outside John Ramsey High School. Video: Ian Landsberg/African News Agency (ANA)
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says they have not received any reports of positive Covid -19 cases at the school.
Principals and teachers also gathered at the Klipfontein and Belgravia Road intersection, asking the DBE to “rethink” their decision to open schools.
Zida Khan, a teacher at Oude Molen High School, says that there are alternative ways of educating pupils: “There are other ways for us to do assessments and we should be focusing on that instead of trying to get normal assessments in a time when things are not normal.”
But, Motshekga says a confirmed Covid-19 case does not necessarily require a school to be closed, and each case is handled differently.
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“We will endeavour to communicate which of our schools have been affected, but we won’t release personal information that may put positive patients at risk,” she says.
Motshekga said that if Covid-19 is confirmed at a school, it would close for decontamination, after which classes would resume.
“I am happy to indicate that all provinces are now finalising management plans for the return of Grades R, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, and 11 on 6 July 2020,” she adds.