Teachers, administration officials to work until Friday
The Basic Education Department has confirmed that although schools officially closed on Wednesday, 18 March 2020, in terms of the Cabinet decision taken on Sunday, teachers will continue to work until Friday, 20 March 2020.
On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a national disaster and announced the closure of schools to combat transmission of the virus.
“The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) instructed heads of education departments to develop an implementation plan that would include a curriculum catch up plan. In order to achieve this objective teachers would have to work as normal in terms of the approved school calendar.
“It was also agreed that staff would be staying until Friday to finalise the administration,” said the department.
Mathanzima Mweli, the Department’s Director-General said Heads of Education discussed the implications of the Cabinet decision and agreed that the best way forward is to send learners home and allow teachers the space needed to plan for the reopening of schools which is scheduled for 14 April 2020.
“We are grateful that our teachers have heeded the call because they understand the circumstances we are working under and that the curriculum implementation remains our priority,” said the Director-General.
The DBE will support provinces to put in place a comprehensive recovery plan to mitigate against the 10 days that will be lost as a result of the early close of schools.
School nutrition
On the school nutrition programme, Minister Angie Motshekga noted questions regarding learners benefiting from the school nutrition programme and the plans during school closures.
“The concern is valid however schools were due to close anyway on Friday so parents and guardians were always going to continue with their responsibilities over their children. The nutrition provides meals to learners in school. We are working on revising the school calendar to ensure that the 10 days are recovered so that nobody is compromised in anyway,” said the Minister.
Motshekga repeated her appeal to parents to keep their children at home and to support them with school work during the long period of school closures.
“The department will continue to monitor the situation and advise accordingly should there be new developments on the matter of the Coronavirus,” said the department.
All schools including early childhood centres, private and public as well as boarding and special schools are affected by the Cabinet decision. – SAnews.gov.za
Sectors urged to take COVID-19 seriously
The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, has encouraged the cultural and sports sectors to take the measures announced by the President to manage Coronavirus (COVID-19) seriously.
Tuesday’s meeting with the sectors comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the outbreak a national disaster and outlined a comprehensive plan detailing how the country will respond in the short- to medium-term.
These measures are anchored in the National Disaster Management Act, the regulations of which also provide for consequences for those in contravention of the act.
“We have no choice but to fight this scourge together. We can only defeat this pandemic if we unite our efforts,” Mthethwa said.
According to the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, sporting federations are projecting losses in the hundreds of millions, and the livelihood of artists, producers and performers, whose incomes are already not regular, will reach unprecedented lows.
The following proposals and discussion points were noted in the outcome of the consultations:
Consultation with cultural sector
- Minister Mthethwa to engage the private sector through government processes to see how they can contribute to mitigating the crisis, particularly the financial sector.
- Minister Mthethwa to engage his counterpart at the Department of Communications to request national broadcasters to favour local content.
- Ensure artists are paid their royalties as soon as possible.
- Tap into the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and use streaming as a way for artists to continue to work.
Consultation with sports sector
- Sector to be given support to educate athletes on how to avoid the virus.
- South African athletes abroad in high risk countries to be provided with information via Embassies and ensure they are well.
- Consideration will be given to how closed sporting events could still take place, whilst still ensuring the safety and health of athletes.
- Boxing SA, Cricket SA, Netball SA confirmed that they have cancelled all matches until further notice. No organisation is opposed to this decision.
- Athletics South Africa reassured the Minister of the cancellation of the Comrades Marathon.
– SAnews.gov.za
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