Schools in the northern suburbs and elsewhere in the province reopened for Grade 7s and matrics today, despite Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s last-minute stalling of the phased plan.
Earlier this month, the minister said schools would reopen from Monday June 1, with Grade 7 and matrics in the first wave. But the plan saw push-back from teachers’ unions. Then on Sunday, Ms Motshekga postponed a briefing on school readiness and the department issued a statement saying it wanted to delay the reopening by a week.
On Monday Ms Motshekga told a media briefing that schools would now reopen on Monday June 8.
However, Western Cape Education Department MEC Debbie Schafer said schools could no longer be left to “hover in a state of uncertainty” and would reopen in the province on June 1 as originally announced by the minister.
She said the province had “pulled out all the stops” to get schools ready for the June 1 deadline.
“Principals and staff have worked tirelessly to get all the health and safety requirements in place,” she said, adding that R280 million had been spent on protective gear and cleaning materials for schools, including 2.4 million masks (two for each pupil and staff member) and 7000 non-contact digital thermometers and millions of litres of hand sanitiser, liquid soap, disinfectant and bleach.
Parow High School principal Amanda Kruger said staff had spent many hours sanitising and planning as well reorganising desks in classrooms and marking out lines for physical distancing. “You name it, it has been done,” said Ms Kruger.
Each of the 40 pupils who returned to Bellpark Primary on Monday were screened upon entry. Teacher Deon Wentzel said staff had spent the past two weeks preparing. “This morning we opened the gates at 7.15 and began screening children as they entered. Our school starts at 7.30, and normally we have an admin period so that lessons begin at 8am, this morning everything went smoothly and lessons began on time.”
Pupils would attend school every second day over a ten-day cycle, he said. “Our Grade 7 class has 111 learners, so we have split that up into two groups with each group coming to school on alternative days. This means that a learner will either have a three day week or a two day week, but each learner will have a five day week spread over the two weeks.
“We are aware that some of the learners will not be able to attend due to medical reasons or that they are out of the province at the moment, but we expect about 80% to attend. This is not an ideal situation. However, we are committed to making it work, and we also plan to have daily assemblies to speak to the learners as well have daily meetings among staff to report any issues. We see this time with the Grade 7s as a chance to perfect the system ahead of the rest of the learners returning.”
Pupils would not be allowed any games or running during break times, he said. “It will just be a chance to get some fresh air and something to eat. If a learner shows signs of getting sick, we have a room where they can self-isolate and we also have our own Covid-19 response team. This team consists of the principal, vice-principal, an admin member and a teacher. They will be called in and if they determine that the learner needs further attention, the parent will be called to take them to hospital.”
Bernie Marchand, the principal of Fairbairn College in Goodwood, said pupils would have to wear masks throughout the school day.
Fairbairn College and Tygerberg High School have videos on their social media pages showing pupils what to expect when they get to school. Pupils have been asked to take their own stationery as well as their own food as the tuck shops are closed. The videos note that breaks will be staggered and movement around the school limited. They encourage pupils to sanitise their hands regularly and avoid touching their faces and surfaces.
Mr Marchand said Covid-19 notices were posted around the school, floors marked for physical distancing, desks spaced 1.5m apart and sanitisers distributed.
At the Monday press conference, Ms Motshekga apologised to the nation about the confusion and said she had been in late consultation with ministers, teachers unions and school governing bodies about the opening of schools the next day.
Some schools had still not received their personal protective equipment (PPE), water supply, and sanitisers as well as masks, she said. Some had also not prepared for support staff and therefore could not open. Schools were to use this week to prepare for the reopening on Monday June 8.
“We communicated, unfortunately, quite late that parents should not bring Grade 7s and 12s to schools, but teachers who have received PPEs must return to work. Schools which did not receive PPEs and are not ready cannot open. We will meet again Thursday to discuss further,” she said.