Within minutes of Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga’s announcement that schools would reopen on 1 June, social media went bos as parents defiantly said they would not be sending their laaities to school amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Motshekga said matric pupils and Grade 7 pupils would be the first to return, while the rest of the grades would be phased in over the next few months.
Within an hour of Motshekga’s announcement on Monday night, an online petition, “Let’s not gamble with our children’s lives” was started, garnering 35 000 virtual signatures in less than a day.
One parent wrote: “I’d rather have my child repeat the school year than to dig a grave.”
The Daily Voice also conducted a poll on Facebook, asking readers if they would send their children to school next month.
By 5pm on Wednesday, of the estimated 6500 readers who voted, 5800 (almost 90%) said they would not, while 700 (10%) said they would.
Motshekga said for children with underlying health issues, such as asthma, TB and diabetes, parents have options - they can re-apply for the schools their children attended to repeat the grade, or opt for home-schooling with the help of the department.
Staff with these conditions will need to provide a medical report on the nature and duration of the illness. Appropriate work arrangements and/or potential leave may then be considered.
In addition, the matric class of 2020 will be tested on the entire curriculum regardless of the break in classroom time due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Brandon Arendse, a dad from Ravensmead, says he is not happy with the decision.
“We are sending our kids to die. If those kids get infected and die, the Minister of Education and WCED and MEC won’t take any responsibility for what will be called a tragedy,” he said.
“They will let you sign a form to say you can’t keep them responsible for anything.
“And what about teachers, will they be wearing protective clothes?”
On Wednesday, Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said preparations for the return of learners to schools are progressing well, and applauded the 95% of principals and 94% of cleaners currently on premises.
Schools across the country were shut down on 18 March when President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a State of National Disaster due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Schäfer said while she understands parents’ concerns, “we cannot keep schools closed indefinitely”.
She said “extreme measures” would be taken to sanitise classrooms and transport vehicles, and screen children and staff each day.
“We are facing an unprecedented challenge which could not have been anticipated, with no blueprint,” she said.
“Some people are also struggling to understand that on the one hand, they have been told to stay home and isolate themselves from society, yet now they are being told to go to schools, or send their children to school.
“The experts have told us that the virus cannot be stopped, only slowed down, and many people will be infected. That is not something we like to hear, but it is an unfortunate reality.”
Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer
She said there are huge disadvantages of closing schools.
“Parents cannot work, children miss out on important parts of the curriculum which can affect the rest of their schooling and their future earning capacity, and the poor are affected the most.”
In addition to implementing social distancing, the WCED will be handing out hygiene packs to pupils and staff at public schools, each consisting of two masks, hand sanitiser and liquid soap, cleaning materials and non-contact digital thermometers.
The cleaning materials being delivered to schools include bleach, which is recommended by health authorities for disinfecting surfaces.
“According to the NICD, the virus does not live longer than 72 hours on a surface, and is not airborne. Simply put, if there have been no people in the buildings, the virus cannot be there,” added the MEC.
Meanwhile, all Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Partial Care Centres will remain closed until further notice, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said yesterday.
There are currently 1 589 registered ECD facilities in the Western Cape and they would be staying closed.