Basic education department 'ready' for schools to reopen on Monday

• Published date: 24 July 2021
• Author: Charles Cilliers
• Publication title: Citizen, The (South Africa)

She provided updates on the deaths of some teachers, the ongoing vaccination programme and the revised school calendar.

She said her department is ready for schools to reopen, depending on a planned announcement from President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday evening.

"We hold this media briefing in times of trouble. It happens on the back of disturbing incidents of looting and burning down of buildings and vehicles," she said.

"Our young democracy has been tested to the limit; but on the other hand, we have demonstrated what a great nation we are. South Africans from different walks of life, came forward to lend a hand towards healing, rebuilding and renewal. As a nation, we should continue to express appreciation and gratitude to all those South Africans who continue to work towards these noble goals, and reject violence with the contempt it deserves.

"We should refuse to be divided along racial and ethnic lines; and where wrong things happened, we should come together, and work for healing and nation-building in this, our beautiful country.

"The unrest happened in the month of July – the Mandela Month, and so close to Mandela Day. In the name of our first democratically elected president, let us ensure that we never again witness the barbaric events recently seen in our country, and rather in his name, work for peace, unity, our country's wellbeing, and prosperity."

She said that the department had agreement "across the board, that we are ready for the reopening of schools on Monday, 26 July 2021".

"School Management Teams and support staff have already gone back to work, as from Thursday, 22 July 2021, to prepare for the return of learners and teachers on Monday, 26 July 2021."

"Based on the information obtained from provinces, schools were ready to continue to work within the established COVID-19 health protocols, and also to start resuming full school attendance in the primary schools from 2 August 2021. The sector continues to be committed, and at all times we are ready to maintain a balance between saving lives and livelihoods, while fighting the coronavirus pandemic."

The briefing continues, and you can follow it in the video below, in a feed provided by eNCA. The full statement can also be found below:

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION MRS ANGIE MOTSHEKGA ON THE STATE OF READINESS FOR THE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS

24 JULY 2021

Good morning, thank you for joining us.

We hold this media briefing in times of trouble. It happens on the back of disturbing incidents of looting and burning down of buildings and vehicles.

Our young democracy has been tested to the limit; but on the other hand, we have demonstrated what a great nation we are. South Africans from different walks of life, came forward to lend a hand towards healing, rebuilding and renewal. As a nation, we should continue to express appreciation and gratitude to all those South Africans who continue to work towards these noble goals, and reject violence with the contempt it deserves.

We should refuse to be divided along racial and ethnic lines; and where wrong things happened, we should come together, and work for healing and nation-building in this, our beautiful country.

The unrest happened in the month of July – the Mandela Month, and so close to Mandela Day. In the name of our first democratically elected President, let us ensure that we never again witness the barbaric events recently seen in our country, and rather in his name, work for peace, unity, our country's well-being, and prosperity.

In this briefing we will be looking at the following areas –

* Readiness for the schools reopening;

* Readiness for a full return of primary school learners;

* The Sector vaccination programme;

* Vandalism of our schools;

* The function shift of Early Childhood Development for the Department of Social Development (DSD) to the DBE;

* Update on May / June examinations;

* Update on the 2023 school calendar; and

* The National School Nutrition Programme.

On vaccination

First and foremost, I want to take this...