South Africa’s five major teacher unions have called for the immediate closure of all schools as coronavirus cases continue to surge.<\/p>\n
This, they said, must apply to all grades until the end of August, which is when Covid-19 infections are expected to peak, the Sunday Times<\/a><\/strong> reported.<\/p>\n The unions said in a proposal document, that matric students should return on 17 August and that these students should be assisted in various ways while learning from home.<\/p>\n Other grades should only return at the end of August, subject to a review based on the development of the virus, the unions said.<\/p>\n Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga will now discuss these proposals with the cabinet, the paper reports.<\/p>\n Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga confirmed to the Sunday Times that a meeting of the Council of Education Ministers took place on Saturday (18 July). He said the ministers’ engagement will be ‘announced in due course’.<\/p>\n “We wish to reiterate that it is the cabinet that will make the decision on whether schools close or remain open,” he said.<\/p>\n Minister Motshekga said this week that around 16,000 teachers have comorbidities, putting them at greater risk should they contract Covid-19.<\/p>\n Meanwhile several teachers have already died from the virus, while hundreds of schools have been forced to close since 8 June, when most Grade 7 and 12 pupils returned to their classrooms.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa<\/strong><\/p>\n President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the call to close the country’s schools, and has indicated that doing so might be international best practice.<\/p>\n