Cape Town – South African Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has called for social distancing space between pupils at school to be reduced.
Briefing the media on Tuesday on the department’s readiness for the start of a new academic year, Motshekga said that her department was in consultation with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to further reduce the social distance of 1 metre to at least o.5 metre in schools, to allow more children to attend school.
In the meantime, she said, all Covid-19 protocols would remain in effect, including the social distancing of up to a metre between desks, until the department announced the changes.
According to EWN, Motshekga said schools that did not have enough space would continue with rotational learning.
“Until such time as we announce the changes, the rotation remains as is but schools in the meantime are encouraged to find more spaces to create situations to get more learners in but still based on the existing protocols, we’ve not changed the protocols,” the report quoted Motshekga as saying.
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Hundreds of learners started their academic year on Wednesday.
However, this was not a joyous day for at least 1 465 kids who were yet to be allocated a spot in Gauteng.
According to IOL, the Department of Basic Education was working towards elevating the pressure of placement in high-pressure districts by investing in more classrooms.
“We have transferred over R240 million to schools for the construction of classrooms. These funds will enable the construction of 229 classrooms in identified primary schools and 270 classrooms in identified high schools,” the report quoted the department as saying.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
