Teaching unions have unveiled a list of key measures they believe must be met before pupils in England should be allowed to go back to school.

A supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), extra funding for deep cleaning classrooms and the power for local authorities to close schools again in the event of Covid-19 outbreaks in the area are all among the demands they believe must be met.

Unions are also calling for schools to remain shut until a successful nationwide track-and-trace scheme to identify those who need to quarantine is in place. A mobile phone app to help contact tracing was tested on the Isle of Wight this week, however technological and ethical issues have led to the parallel development of a second app.

Published by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), a joint statement was sent to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson from organisations including the National Association of Head Teachers and the National Education Union, as well as supporting unions Unison, GMB and Unite.

They further called for “clear scientific published evidence that trends in transmission of COVID-19 will not be adversely impacted by the reopening phase and that schools are also safe to reopen”.

“Parents and staff need full confidence that schools will be safe before any pupils return,” TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said.

“The government must work closely with unions to agree a plan that meets the tests we have set out.”Those discussions must include unions representing all school workers, not just teachers.”

Labour shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey further called on the government to “take heed” of the measures set out by trade unions.

“Schools should not open until it is safe to do so and the government must commit to work with trade unions and others to agree a set of principles and tests to put safety systems in place in advance of any planned reopening,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education has since responded to the news, saying: “Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has not set a date for schools reopening,”

“Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has not set a date for schools reopening.

“Schools will remain closed, except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children, until the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to re-open and the five tests set out by Government to beat this virus have been met.

“We are also working closely with the sector as we consider how to reopen schools, nurseries and colleges and will ensure everyone has sufficient notice to plan and prepare.”

NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis confirmed at a daily Downing Street conference last week that the “science” behind the contribution of children to the spread of the virus is “still evolving”.

His comments followed those of the chief inspector of Ofsted Amanda Spielman on Sunday. She said she believed the interests of the nation’s youngest children would be best served by allowing them to return to school “as soon as possible”.

“It’s hardest for parents to work and do all the other things they need to do if they’re also looking after perhaps several young children at the same time and trying to make sure they work through schoolwork remotely,” she told Sophie Ridge on Sky News.

“If you look at the interests of children, it’s very clear that their interests are best served, in the vast majority of cases, by being back at school as soon as possible.”

(Source: INEWS)

The closure of South Africa’s schools seven weeks ago halted a national feeding programme providing meals to 9 million extremely poor children, filling their stomachs and helping them get through the classroom day to get an education.

Now a potential hunger crisis looms.

The economic hardship has been severe since President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered most citizens to stay indoors and shuttered all but essential businesses in late March.

“We have kids here at school who faint (from hunger),” said Shireen Valentyn, 41, a volunteer at Hoofweg primary school in the impoverished Blue Downs community in Cape Town.

The school is closed for classes but is providing children and their guardians meals as part of an emergency scheme, unique to South Africa’s Western Cape Province, officials said.

“In our kids there is a lot of hunger,” Valentyn said. In the morning they queue in the cold for porridge. Later separate lines of children and adults wait with plastic lunch boxes for a midday meal of cooked butternut and tinned fish breyani.

South Africa reopened some sectors of the economy on May 1 as the government sought to kickstart a stuttering economy.

Schools are expected to partially reopen later this month, with students seen back in class from June 1.

But there is no certainty over when the national school nutrition programme will resume, piling pressure on poor families struggling to make ends meet.

The education department did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the school meal programme.

“I am also worried about the virus but there is nothing we can do because we can’t stay hungry,” said mother-of-two Thabisa Nete, 33, as she got a hot meal at Vuyani primary school in Cape Town’s Gugulethu township.

The University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute said before the pandemic, a quarter of South Africa’s under-fives were nutritionally stunted and 6.4 million children under 18 survived on less than $32 a month.

The government had distributed over 250 000 emergency food parcels to poor families by the end of April, the social development minister said, and provided an extra R50 billion for social grants.

But child rights activists still warn of a “hunger crisis”.

“There is certainly a hunger crisis … and from the perspective of children, I would say that this is a severe implication for their ability to survive,” said Nurina Ally, executive director at Equal Education Law Centre (EELC).

The EELC is one of five groups lobbying Ramaphosa to immediately restart the national feeding scheme or replace it with viable alternatives like food vouchers, as some other countries have done, or substantial increases to child support grants.

(Source: Reuters)

Nyakallo Tefu

The Department of Basic Education has warned against the premature reopening of schools.

This comes after reports emerged that certain independent and public schools were preparing to re-open much earlier and had already started to receive learners ahead of the date announced by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

In a statement, the Department said some school teachers and principals were already reporting for duty. Parents meetings have also been held where plans were announced to have learners back this month. 

Motshekga’s spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga confirmed that the department was aware that some independent (or private) and public schools are already preparing to reopen.

“The premature reopening of schools is not permitted as the Department is still finalising COVID-19 school compliance protocols,” said Mhlanga in a statement.  

“The uniform standards will be applicable in schools as part of the measures put in place to protect learners and teachers, reduce infection and save the academic year.”

Department of Education’s Director-General Mathanzima Mweli condemned the premature re-opening of schools, saying the minister will next week return to the National Coronavirus Command Council to present an enhanced recovery plan for the basic education based on inputs and feedback received thus far.

 “I therefore urge schools to familiarize themselves with all the Regulations and Directives to ensure compliance. In the meantime, schools consult with the Department of Health and Department of Employment and Labour, in anticipation of the determination by the Minister”, said Mweli. 

“I am emphasizing that until this determination is made schools must remain closed.”

The National School of Government is currently experiencing a loss of over R10 million per month due to the COVID-19 national lockdown, according to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration.

This came to the fore in Parliament this week after the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration received briefings from the Public Service Commission and the National School of Government on their 2019/2024 strategic and annual performance plans for the 2020/2021 financial year.

The committee said that it was deeply concerned over the sustainability of the National School of Government as contact classes had to be suspended due to lockdown, leading to a loss of R10.5 million per month.

The committee also heard that the school generates 80% of its income from the intake of students who register for various programmes that are offered by the school.

However, the committee said it was pleased to hear that the school had a long-term strategy for sustainability which included e-learning, a change in price modalities and an extension of its courses to other markets such as Parliament and the state-owned enterprises.

The National School of Government plays a significant role in overseeing the professional common purpose in addressing the systemic challenges of Public Service delivery, through the learning and development of public officials.

The school trains about 4 000 public servants annually at its premises in Sunnyside, Pretoria and 40 000 in external venues in other cities nationwide.

Face-to-face training was suspended last month in light of the national lockdown and will enhance online training during this period.
 
The Public Service Commission reported that, although the commission was not listed as an essential service provider according to the lockdown regulations, however, the Public Service Commission Corruption Hotline remains as an essential service, and its operation needs to continue.

The PSC also reported about the four vacant positions of commissioners that exist, and that must be filled, three at provincial level and one at national level.
 
 (Compiled by Inside Politics staff)

Nyakallo Tefu

The Gauteng Department of Education has send condolences to the families of two learners who died in separate incidents in Hammanskraal, 30km north of Pretoria.

An 8-year old girl learner from Selang Primary School was electrocuted after touching an electric cable, while the 12-year old boy from Lethabo Phalane Primary School, who was diabetic, faced complications and subsequently died.

Gauteng MEC of Education Panyaza Lesufi said he was saddened by the death of the two learners.

“We would like to convey our sincere condolences to both families and the school community. We pray for their strength during this time of affliction” said Lesufi. 

The department said the Temba police are investigating the death of the girl who was electrocuted by an electric cable, which was wrongly earthed at home. 

According to the department, both schools will facilitate memorial services to celebrate their lives after the lockdown period.

Charles Molele

Access to the Union Buildings in the country’s capital Pretoria is currently limited after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Presidency said all officials who were in contact with the staff member are currently being screened and tested for the deadly coronavirus strain that causes flu-like symptoms.

Presidency also said access to the Union Buildings is therefore limited to exceptional interactions.

“In line with government’s guidelines on the management of COVID-19 cases, steps have been taken to secure treatment of the relevant staff member and to provide support to the member’s family,” said the Presidency.

“The Presidency’s Pandemic Task Team, established to assist in managing all Covid-19 related matters, proactively initiated a process of disinfection and deep cleaning of all The Presidency facilities. This process commenced on Tuesday, 28 April 2020.”  

The statement also pointed out that President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Mabuza have been working remotely and not from the Union Buildings since the start of lockdown, and were therefore not in contact with the infected person.

(Compiled by Inside Education staff)

Nyakallo Tefu 

The Department of Basic Education has welcomed the judgment by the Limpopo High Court which dismissed an application by the Tebeila Institute of Leadership, Governance and Training.

The Institute went to court on an urgent basis to set aside the decision of the minister to re-open schools on June 1.

Judge Gerrit Muller dismissed the case, saying that Limpopo High Court had no jurisdiction over the matter.

He ordered parties to cover their own costs.

Judge Muller also agreed with the department that the competent court would have been the Gauteng Division of the Court in Pretoria because that is where the offices of the Minister and the Department of Basic Education are located, not Polokwane in Limpopo.

The department argued in court that the dates set by the minister for the re-opening of schools were tentative and not final.  

Motshekga said the National Coronavirus Command Council will have the final say depending on how the country is doing as it fights the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The department’s Recovery Plan states that learners will return to school in phases, with Grades 7 and 12 learners set to go back to school first, while teachers will be back on 18 May 2020 to prepare for lessons.

The department further outlined that the contemplated reopening of schools had been developed together with provinces, other government departments, all stakeholders and civil society through a consultative process over a number of weeks.

“Motshekga did not come up with the draft Recovery Plan overnight but it was being developed with rational, considered and responsible input from stakeholders as well as interested and affected parties”, said Basic Education’s Director-General Mathanzima Mweli in the answering affidavit.

In a statement, departmental spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said Basic Education would now proceed with its plans as outlined by Motshekga. 

“On the substance of the matter, the department argued that the contemplated reopening of schools had been developed together with the provinces, other government departments, all stakeholders and civil society through a consultative process over a number of weeks. The announcement by the minister was of the proposed tentative dates only. A final date for schools to reopen will be informed by the readiness of schools to reopen,” said Mhlanga.

Chester Makana, Charles Molele and Nyakallo Tefu

Teacher unions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are up in arms over the lack of water security at more than 3 500 schools across the country, just four weeks before the proposed re-opening plans by Basic Education Minsiter Angie Motshekga. 

The unions are already calling for an urgent meeting with Motshekga, MECs of Education and Heads of Department to discuss safety measures before the proposed re-opening of schools, including the provision of water and toilets to rural areas.  

The provision of water security is at the centre of the list of demands by the unions and NGOS because it plays a major role in the prevention of the transmission of the novel Coronavirus, which has no cure and has infected more than 6 783South Africans.

According to basic education’s Director-General Mathanzima Mweli, there are 3500 schools requiring emergency water provisioning in South Africa.

The DBE also plans to provide mobile toilets to schools to replace pit latrines – there are approximately 3700 schools with plain pit latrines as their only form of sanitation, according to the DBE’s latest National Education Infrastructure Management System (NEIMS) report. 

The unions, among them SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), National Teachers Union (NATU) and National Professional Teachers Organization of South Africa (NAPTOSA), have asked to meet with Motshekga before the 6th and on the 10th of May to tick the box of all the non-negotiables. The NGOs concerned about water security include Equal Education, Equal Education Law Centre and Section 27.

“Our provincial Secretaries will also request urgent meetings with the MECs and Heads of Departments in provinces to monitor; the plan by the Minister and further provincial plans,” the teacher unions said.

“If there is no progress the Minister will be required, in the interest of transparency to address the nation about the reasons and how the challenges are being addressed. Workers will not be expected to report for duty because there will be no safety. The law requires that the employer guarantees a safe workplace for the employees.”

Teacher unions and the NGOS believe the proposed date to re-open schools is premature because it is impossible for government to deliver water tanks, toilets and personal protective equipment by June.

NAPTOSA’s national leader Basil Manuel said it was highly unlikely for the department of education, working hand in glove with the Department of Water and Sanitation, to reach the goal of providing water tanks to over 3 500 schools in less than three weeks. 

“I believe the reopening of schools is a very tall order. Are we ready now? No. Will we be ready by 1 June 2020, highly unlikely? We have over 7000 schools that have water issues. Some of the water issues were easily resolved. There are 3000 schools where there is simply no water provision. For example, some schools will have the tank but the installation requires cement, which we can’t buy at the moment,” said Manuel.

“I can’t see this being solved if it couldn’t be solved in 25 years. The issue of pit latrines is also something that seems hard to deal with, already looking at that thing seems like you will attract so many diseases.”

NATU’s president Allen Thompson said the issue of delivering tankers is not a problem, but installing and getting them to work was the main issue.

“There are 4 000 schools without toilets, almost 3 500 schools are without water, if you have heard information from the minister of water and sanitation, she claims to have delivered the tanks but the unfortunate part is that you don’t need a tank to have water, you need the tank to be installed,” said Thompson.  

“With that process set to take place, it is not possible for all the 3 500 schools to have received the tanks, have them installed and be tested plus add water to them. The minister was just too ambitious to make pronouncement about the 11, 18 of May and 1 June. We do want to go back to school, but we need the minister to give us a plan management.” 

Equal Education’s General Secretary Noncedo Madubedube said the NGO has been campaigning for the provision of water for the past eight years, and government has not come to the party, leaving close to  5 million people without access to water and about 15 million without access to basic sanitation.

“We have led a campaign for the provision of water since 2012 to schools and not much has changed. How are they are going to achieve that target within a short space of four weeks when they couldn’t do it in the past decades,” said Madubedube.

“It’s impossible to resume classes under these conditions. It is irresponsible and careless for the minister to do this. The idea of saving the curriculum at the expense of learners and teachers is absurd.”

In the far-flung rural villages of Limpopo, plans to restart the 2020 academic year have struck fear among parents at schools which do not have access to running water and sanitation.

Parents at Tshikalange primary school at Guyuni village near Kruger National Park’s Pafuri gate in Limpopo believe that without water the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus will be a lost battle and may endanger the lives of their children.

The village has been struggling to have running water for more than five years and had to pay at least R100 per bakkie load to access the precious resource.

Villager Ndivhuwo Nemulodi who is also a school governing body secretary said her school has been struggling to get water for more than five years.

“We understand that government wants schools to reopen, but our main problem is that we are even struggling to access water to cook learners meals in the school,” she said

Motshekga announced that the DBE has engaged all stakeholders and will only reopen when all demands made by education unions and other stakeholders are met.

But Nemulodi doubts if the battle to have running water will be won in her village, saying they have engaged the authorities without success.

“When the schools closed there was no water; our children carry water from home to schools so they could drink. The school only buys water to prepare meals,” said Nemulodi

Nemulodi said parents are not much worried about access to water as they have learned to live with the pain, and used child support grant to remedy the situation.

She argues that the more Grade 7 pupils are allowed to return to class if one person had the virus it will cause more damage than the intended desire to keep education rolling.

“This virus is scary what we see on the news in other countries, if it strikes us we are all going to perish, we are in a dilemma because even if we can have water we still have lions that are roaming in our village,” said Nemulodi

When lockdown was introduced to help flatten the curve against Covid-19, government also outlined a plan to distribute water into villages.

Nemulodi said her village is also getting water delivered with water tankers.

The villagers’ bid to drill boreholes has failed as it appears the underground reserves have also dried up.

The school has an enrollment of 201 pupils, and is the feeder to Makuya secondary in the neighboring village.

Nemulodi said that’s where local children proceed to finish their matric.

How schools and children will behave is not the question that is consuming Nemulodi alone.

Rofhiwa Netshipise of Makuya Secondary said his village is too poor and ill prepared to see their children returning to schools.

The Netshipise SGB secretary argues that it is better to lose a school calendar than risking losing children whose future could change their parents lives for good.

“I was watching news channels – what’s going on in Brazil and Italy is scary, we are not advance like them, I think we should just accept that 2020 was a year will not count,” he said

Netshipise said that collecting water on the streets defeat the purpose of lockdown, and the virus can be passed in the streets.

Nyakallo Tefu 

KwaZulu Natal MEC for Education Kwazi Mshengu has called on Justice Minister Ronald Lamola to step in and intervene in the vandalism of schools in the province.

Mshengu said with no conviction of criminals happening, the justice system is failing to send a clear message to the criminals that they will be dealt with.

The Umlazi District in KwaZulu-Natal is among the worst hit by acts of vandalism and burglaries, with 41 schools affected. 

So far, in KwaZulu Natal, nine people have been linked to the recent attacks, and Gauteng has the highest number of targeted schools, with 60 schools vandalized so far.

“We are arranging a meeting with the Minister of Justice because we want to raise our frustration to say, ‘there’s never been a single conviction on any case related to vandalism and break-ins into our schools,’” said Mshengu. 

“Despite raising my frustration with Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli and the provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Khombinkosi Jula, there has not been a single conviction”, said Mshengu. 

The Department of Basic Education says at least 962 schools across the country have been vandalized since the country went on lockdown.

Motshekga said in all the incidents, administration blocks and laboratories have been targeted, and ICT (information and communications technology) equipment has been stolen.

“There are other suspects that were arrested for other burglaries that happened before, but there has not been a single conviction. All that happens is that they get arrested, get given bail, and roam around our streets,” said Mshengu. 

Schools are set to reopen in June, however, the targeting of schools will set the government back as they will need to repair and sanitize schools before teachers and learners return. 

“I will be failing my duty if I don’t express my deep concern about what is happening to our schools during the lockdown,” said Motshekga.

Motshekga has welcomed the work done by the police in ensuring that those behind the vandalism and robberies were brought to book and has called on communities to help with revealing the people involved in these crimes. 

This week people working in the education sector will return to work after the country entered Level 4 of the lockdown on May 01, where the economy is being opened gradually following a complete shutdown. 

Teachers are set to return to school on May 18 to prepare classes when the Grade 7s and 12s make a return on June 1. 

The minister said the return of learners depended on how the country will be doing in dealing with cases of the novel coronavirus.