'No need to panic' - Motshekga assures on full-time return of primary school pupils

Motshekga believes there is no need to panic, as the department’s decision to return pupils to school on a full-time basis is supported by empirical evidence.

Motshekga was speaking at a teacher appreciation event on Tuesday.

The decision to allow all primary school pupils to return to school full-time in July has raised questions in some quarters.

The department has gazetted the regulations for the return of all pupils in grades R to 7 from July 26.  

Schools for pupils with special education are also expected to return to the daily attendance and traditional timetabling model from July 26.

She said the department will continue monitor developments as the country deals with the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We continue to monitor the trajectory of the pandemic and make all necessary regulations and directions in line with the Covid-19 risk-adjusted differentiated strategy. I realise that there is anxiety about sending all primary school children back to school at once. There's no need to panic. Our decision making is supported by empirical evidence,” said Motshekga.

“Research shows that primary school learners benefit more from continuous and unbroken contact time with their teachers. However, the health and safety of learners, teachers and school community remains of paramount importance and will not be compromised.”

Motshekga urged parents to send children back to school, as they have already lost learning time.

“There is nothing more important than education of our children and we should use every opportunity, so when we say we want children to go back to school on the 26 of July it is not for anything.

“It is really to protect the little we can protect under very difficult circumstances, so we are really appealing to parents. I said to them if you think we are putting children in a harms’ way don’t bring them.

“I am also saying on the 26 let’s agree, if you have a plan for your child not to be playing on the streets at 9am, then you can keep your child, but we are saying to those parents who need us to look after their kids, who want to work with us to protect learning and teaching time, we will do what we can. We will go out of our way to make sure that they are safe, lets protect the little that we have this current system is not working with us.”

Motshekga said the rotation system has had a severe impact on teaching and learning.

“It is eroding all things we have invested in and it has long-term implications for the educational development of this kids. We have lost almost a year last year, we have lost almost six months now and we can’t continue like this. We need everyone else to help us protect learning and teaching.

“Let’s fight about other things, but not the education of our children.”

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