Live stream: Motshekga provides back-to-school update

After numerous postponed briefings and court bids to halt the reopening of schools set for Monday, 8 June, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to give an update on her department’s state of readiness.

Motshekga and her department will hold a media briefing on Sunday 7 June at 16:00 in Pretoria.

Watch: Motshekga provides back-to-school update

[Live stream scheduled to start at 16:00 on Sunday 7 June]

It has been a gruelling week for the minister, who was not only forced to admit that her department was far from ready to welcome grades 7 and 12 pupils back into the classroom, but faced the wrath of many who took issue with the initial decision.

Schools were meant to reopen on Monday 1 June. However Motshekga postponed it by a week, saying more time was needed for classrooms to prepare.

Unions, SGBs ‘tentatively’ support the reopening of schools

In an about turn, teacher unions and school governing body associations have said they would be backing the decision by the department to send pupils back to school after meeting with Motshekga.

In a statement, the five unions: (SADTU, NAPTOSA, SAOU, NATU, PEU) and the School Governing Body Associations said they had met with Motshekga  and Education MECs to receive reports on the COVID-19 Compliance of schools and readiness to re-open.

However, they said schools would only be allowed to reopen their doors learners if they adhere to the coronavirus healthcare measures.

“With the overall school readiness said to be 94%, the unions and SGB Associations consequently support the call to re-open schools on 08th June 2020 with the clear understanding that no school may open that is not Covid-19 compliant”, they said in a statement.

“It should be stated that three out of the nine provinces were still experiencing challenges with regard to the delivery of water tanks which will make the resumption of learning and teaching impossible unless alternative measures are taken to ensure that all learners receive education”

Maimane not backing down

So far, the department has won favour from the courts after several failed bids to block the reopening of schools. The latest is one by former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane and his One South Africa Movement, who had approached the Constitutional Court.

“We seek to invoke the court’s wide remedial powers by seeking structural or supervisory relief stipulating stringent conditions, without which the respondents may not implement any of the Level 3 measures and/or more specifically the reopening of schools for a period of 60 days, during which the constitutional breaches may be cured. In the supervening period, and in order to avoid a vacuum, the Level 4 regulations must be restored,” Maimane had said in his application.