RESPONSE TO MINISTER ANGELINAH MATSIE MOTSHEKGA IN RESPECT TO QUESTIONS ASKED TO THE UNION IN A MEETING HELD TODAY. 17 JULY 2020

Department of Basic Education Minister, held a meeting on  17July 2020 with the unions. Teachers Unions were in unison that the Minister must consider closing schools with immediate effect,  considering the country 's escalating statistics in COVID-19 infections.

The fact that SA is now amongst the top six countries in the World with the highest infections,  makes the call to close schools even more urgent than ever before.

It is quite worrisome and worth noting that our country has reached the more than 300 000 mark in infections, of which 100 000 cases happened within nine days.

Whilst the Minister is non- committal on the issue, due to the fact that the decision to close or open schools is the competency of cabinet,  she had the following petinent questions that she posed to Unions.

1. If schools are going to be closed, what will teachers be doing? Will they remain at school?

Madam Minister, the schools closed in March and the country went on nationwide Lockdown as the President declared the National State of 
Disaster. The same disaster is still here and on a huge proportion. You were recorded on media asserting scientific information that children are likely not to get covid 19, if they do, they remain asymptomatic and will not be infectious. This has been proven to be a very wrong science. To this effect, kindly disclose your scientists. Teachers will work from home just like you. Teacher will do lesson preparations, collate Learning Activity Packs for learners and distribute them to parents. In this case, A day or two will be declared for teachers to go to school alternately, make copies, package and submit to HoD. Parents will be asked to come and collect on certain days and also submit same on certain days. Teachers will control the work and give 
feedback to learners. Just like you are not in parliarment, teachers will not be in school.

2. If teachers are not going to be at work due to COVID -19 whilst other public servants are working under same conditions, must they still 
be paid?

Madam, just as you are not in Parliament but working from home, Teachers will be doing the same just like their leader, yourself. Must you 
still be paid noting that you are not in parliament? We thought you also believe in yourself as you said learning and teaching is happening during LOCKDOWN. It indeed does happen. Only that your approach for the elite. We are giving simple traditional solution as stated in response number 1 above. This one is for all learners regardless of class, status 
and resources. New body of knowledge or advise from World Health Organization warns the reopening of schools where community infections are rising.

PLEASE READ THE CAUTION BELOW:

World Health Organization officials warned global leaders Monday against turning the 
decision to reopen schools “into yet another political football in this game. My fear in this is that we create these political footballs that get kicked around the place,” Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s health emergencies program, said at a news conference at the organization’s Geneva headquarters.

 “If we suppress the virus in our society, in our communities, then our schools can open safely.”

KINDLY ENGAGE YOUR SCIENTIST WHO IS ADVISING YOUR MINISTRY TO RELOOK AND CONSIDER NEW BODY OF KNOWLEDGE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT OTHER SECTORS ARE ALSO SUPPORTING THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS. EXAMPLE - Nehawu. IT WILL NOT BE PRUDENT TO LOSE TEACHERS AND LEARNERS AT THE EXPENSE OF SAVING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. LIVES LOST CANNOT BE 
REGAINED.

1976 STUDENT UPRISING - YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THIS ONE - THERTE WAS NO SCHOOLING AS WE WERE FIGHTING THE ENEMY? The 1980s NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY - THIS ONE ALSO YOU 
SHOULD Remember IN BOTH STATE OF EMERGENCIES - SCHOOLING WAS DISRUPTED BUT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE EMERGED.
WE ARE NOW IN A NATIONAL STATE OF DISASTER - FIGHTING A COMMON INVISSIBLE ENEMY: PLEASE HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF TEACHERS, STAFF, DISTRICT AND HEAD OFFICE OFFICIALS AND LEARNERS WHO ARE UNDER YOUR MINISTRY. PLEASE FIGHT ALONGSIDE ALL OF US.

3. If schools were to close and reopen, when must they reopen?

Schools should reopen on Tuesday 15 September 2020. By then, It will be warmer and the spread of covid-19 infections are likely TO be under control.

4. If they are to close and reopen, which grades must reopen?

All grades must reopen. By then, even teachers with comorbidities will be back at work. No need to worry about extra budget to pay teachers.We are teachers, we will be able to carry the load when it is safe to do so.

OTHER REMARKS BY UNIONS 

If you are concerned about Grade 12s, Kinldy organize resident study camps. This will help a lot. Teachers and learners will all be tested first 
before admission into the camp. Once they are all tested, there will be safety at the camp. All Health and Safety Protocols must still be followed and practiced. Once again, If you are worried about food/ Feeding Scheme - Kindly 
reallocate this to the community centres and or churches. Learners must be fed at the local community facilities.