Five teacher unions -Sadtu, Natu, Naptosa, PEU and Saou - have slammed the Western Cape government’s
decision to go it alone in reopening schools on Monday.
The Department of Basic Education announced on Sunday that it had taken a decision to delay the reopening of schools for grade 12 and 7s by a week, and schools are now expected to open on 8 June.
However, the teacher unions said in a joint statement that they were not aware of the delay, and have been pushing for a meeting with the DBE, which has now been scheduled for 11 June.
On the WCED’s decision to reopen schools, the unions said: “We are not only going to scrutinise, but challenge their motive.
“This is the time to show solidarity with the plight of other provinces and indeed, sympathy with the plight of thousands of our teachers and children.
“The schools across the country must prioritise the training of the teachers on the amended curriculum and allow the teachers the professional autonomy to help the learners as and when they finally return to schools,” the unions said.
WCED MEC Debbie Schafer said on Sunday that her department had spent over R280m on personal protective equipment and cleaning materials, which included over two million masks, and over 7000 non-contact thermometers for screening.
Schafer said it would be unfair not to reopen schools as teachers,
parents and learners have all worked hard to return to class.
“Our schools are overwhelmingly ready, including schools that serve poor communities. This has also been verified by the NECT,” said Schafer.