The Minister convened a Special CEM meeting this morning, to reflect on the address by the President to the nation last Sunday,and togetthe latest assessment about schooling.

The country is entering the peak of the infections of the virus.  It is therefore incumbent on everyone  to contribute  in enabling  the  health  system  to  deal  with the  peak  of  COVID-19 infections.  It is undesirable todeplete the capacity of the health sector,especially at this time, as that capacity will be desperately needed by the country.

It’s important to remember that government’s decision to gradually lift the lockdown,was and still is predicated on saving lives and livelihood.Schooling is very much part of our livelihood.Schools and indeed the system,are dealing with a completely new environment;and we need to  afford  the  opportunity  and  space  to  gradually  settle  in  dealing  with  the  new  normal  of operating  under  COVID-19,in  line  with  the  Risks  Adjusted  Differentiated  Approach  in Reopening schools;otherwise schools mayalso become overwhelmed.

In terms of the Directions, schools that have demonstratedthe ability to adhere to the health, safety and social distancing measures, and are able to settle additional learners faster and easier,will  be  allowed  to  continue phasing-in more  grades. The  Ministerial  Advisory Committee on COVID-19, the Departmentof Health,and the Basic Education Sector will continue  to  closely  monitor the developmentsin  schools,in  terms  of  the  virus  and  the pandemic;and advise the Council of education Ministers (CEM)and Cabinet accordingly.CEM will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation on a weekly basis.

The government is extremely concerned about teachers, principals, non-teaching staff who use  any  platform  to  attack  government  for  going  back to work;ostensibly  creating  an impression that they should be treated differently from the rest of the other public servants.

CEM has resolved to take legal action against all individuals and groupsthatcontinue to disrupt schooling.We would like to emphasise the fact that the reopening and closure of schools  is  a  legislative  responsibility  accorded  to  national  and  provincial  authorities  only. Groups and individuals who are not empowered by law do not have the authority to close schools.

CEM wishes to restate that over and above section 51 of the South African Schools Act,which providesfor  Home  Education,  there  are  three additional  arrangements  made available  to those parents who choose not to bring their childrenback to school.

CEM  has  further  noted  theresolution  by  the South  African  Democratic  Teachers  Union (SADTU),in which they call for the closure of schools.Thedecision on whether schools will be closed or not,will be taken by Cabinet.

Having said that,one of the main reasonsfor the phased-in reopening of schools, was to make sure the unfettered right to basic education for all children, is equitably provided.  During Alert Levels 5 and 4 of the national lockdown, most children from the most rural and remote areas of the country, especially learners from quintiles 1-3 schools, could not access any form of online  teaching  and  learning.    This,  inadvertently  negatively  affected  these  children’s unfettered right to basic education.  It is particularly the poor,who continue to be at risk,if schools donot reopen.  Critical in the phased reopening of schools, was adherence to the health, safety and social distancing protocols as determined by the Department of Health.

On School Nutrition, the basic education sector is only resourced to provide learners from poor socio-economic backgrounds with daily nutritious meals at our schools.  One of the important reasons we wanted to reopen schools,was to enable the poor learners to access the school nutrition programme.  There are the learners,who were deprived of the meals due to the national lockdown. With the reopening of schools, we are now feeding our learners; and have further expanded the feeding to learners,who are not yet back in schools. We have now arranged for them to collect food parcels from the schoolsclosest to their homes.

On  corruption, the  Auditor-General  is  presently  auditing  the  procurement  of  COVID-19 essentials for schools.

On learner support, the sectorcontinuesto provide support to learners,using a variety of platforms,including radio, television, online,and of course physical teaching and learning in schools.The DBEhasover 330 digital content education sites, thathave been zero-rated;and have good curriculum content that can be accessed by any learner,whether they have data or not.The DBE and its partnershave also broadcasted and streamed over 3000 hours of  lessons  to  support  learners  through  television,  radio  and  online  platforms.These interventions are part of the Department’s effort to ensure unlimited access to rich content for learning during this time.

On international lessons, the DBE has repeatedly reported that in our preparations for the phased return of learners to school, we were guided by our science, health and education experts; as well as learning from international experiences.  We have repeatedly reported that countries of the world directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, have responded differently to  the  pandemic.    Some  have  completely  reopened  their  schools,  some  have  partially reopened their schools; some even reopened and closed their schools when the realities pertaining to the pandemic forced them to dos so.  South Africa is definitely no different from international practices.

On school attendance, South Africa is doing admirably quite well.  On average, current learner attendance at our schoolsstands at around 80%; which much better that most of thecountries of the world.

CEM expressed its concern on the increase in infection in communities, and the impact it has on  schools.    The  Council  implored  all  stakeholders  to  collaborate  in  the  fight  against  the pandemic.

We would like to reiterate the factthat there are ongoing discussions in government and Cabinet regarding how the phased reopening of schools could maintain the moment but help to ease the pressure from the health system to focus on dealing with the peak of the pandemic. At the appropriate moment Cabinet will take a decision on the matter.

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION
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