Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga announced on Saturday (19 June), that schools in South Africa will remain open, despite a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.<\/p>\n
In a media briefing providing an update on the impact of Covid-19 on schools in the country, Motshekga, said: “We believe that schools must remain open and in saying so we are not insensitive to the concerns raised about the rising infections.”<\/span><\/p>\n The minister said that the department has taken advice from the medical fraternity, in making its decision.<\/p>\n She said that while there have been disruptions in the sector, the majority of schools remain stable.<\/p>\n Approximately 100 schools have been disrupted due to the ongoing outbreak, out of a sector that contains more than 25,517 schools.<\/p>\n More than 25,400 schools remain stable, the minister stressed.<\/p>\n “At all times, we follow the advice of public health experts, who are supporting us in the management of the impact of Covid-19.”<\/span><\/p>\n Motshekga said that 582,000 teachers and teaching staff will be vaccinated over a two-week period.<\/span><\/p>\n The rollout will formally start on Wednesday, 23 June, concluding 8 July, the day prior to school closures. “For the next two weeks, we make the clarion call to our school communities to drop all and vaccinate.<\/p>\n “In order for us to successfully complete this program, we will need to keep schools open. Any disruptions would be undesirable,” Motshekga said<\/span>.<\/p>\n She said that the education sector has suffered severely in terms of learning and teaching, because of the virus outbreak.<\/p>\n In terms of the target population, the department said that all adults will be vaccinated in both public and private education sectors.<\/p>\n This will include teachers, admin staff, volunteer food handlers, and cleaners. All officials in the sector will also be vaccinated.<\/p>\n No age restrictions are in place for the vaccination program, the department said.<\/p>\n Primary school children are set to return to school on 28 July, which is the first day of the third school term.<\/p>\n The department confirmed that the country received the 300,000 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines earmarked for teachers on Thursday.<\/p>\n Deputy director-general (DDG) in the health department, Dr Nicholas Crisp, who is managing the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, said earlier this week: “Most of them have already been vaccinated because some of them are over 60, while others work as psychologists or registered as healthcare workers.”<\/p>\n While the 300,000 vaccines will not be enough to cover all the teachers, Crisp said the next consignment is due to arrive next week from a similar source in the US.<\/p>\n The Basic Education Department said it is arranging for schools to get designated vaccination sites.<\/p>\n Vaccination is voluntary, it said. No one will be forced to do it.<\/p>\n However, teachers with comorbidities are requested to vaccinate.<\/p>\n “Vaccination is voluntary but highly recommended so that everybody can be protected. <\/span><\/p>\n Let us work together on this fight against Covid-19 in our spaces,” said the minister. A total of 51,301 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, with 10,510 new cases, which represents a 20.5% positivity rate.<\/p>\n A further 118 Covid-19 related deaths have been reported, taking total fatalities in the country to 58,441.<\/p>\n #COVID19<\/a> UPDATE: A total of 51,301 tests were conducted in the last 24 hrs, with 10,510 new cases, which represents a 20.5% positivity rate. A further 118 #COVID19<\/a> related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 58,441. Read more: https:\/\/t.co\/UcyTcfpWO5<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RZ9oMX0ISy<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NICD (@nicd_sa) June 18, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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