School children walk through the city centre in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo via: Ashraf Hendricks / GroundUp
National Shutdown: WCED says schools are closed for a holiday, not the protest
‘It is not clear why the EFF has threatened to close schools on a planned school holiday,’ said provincial education MEC David Maynier.
School children walk through the city centre in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo via: Ashraf Hendricks / GroundUp
On Thursday, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed that schools would be closed on Monday, 20 March, for a school holiday planned well before the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) National Shutdown.
READ: National Shutdown LIVE UPDATES
WCED reassures parents as EFF threatens school closures
Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier said the Department was aware of concerns raised about the National Shutdown on Monday.
“I can assure parents that public schools will be closed on Monday, 20 March 2023 – as it is a previously planned school holiday.
“The school calendar is gazetted by the national minister a full year in advance, and the school calendar for 2023 indicates that all public schools in the country have a special school holiday on 20 March 2023,” he said.
Maynier said the school holiday is because Tuesday, 21 March, is a public holiday – Human Rights Day.
The MEC added it is not clear why EFF members have threatened to close schools on a planned school holiday.
“I hope this allays the concerns of the public, and especially our parents, who are worried that the EFF might put the safety of their children at risk.”
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