Schools reopen in 3 weeks and 2 000 teachers have succumbed to Covid-19
- Schools are set to reopen in three weeks but as the virus sweeps through the country this is not certain
- Around 2 000 teachers have died from the virus in the Western Cape which is a cause of concern for parents
- The Western Cape Department of Education is adamant that schools will reopen at the end of January
PAY ATTENTION: Join Briefly News' Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
Schools are set to reopen in three weeks and parents are worried about how schools will cope as Covid-19 sweeps the nation in a second wave.
There has been a direct impact on education as approximately 2 000 teachers have died as a result of Covid-19 in the Western Cape alone.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Millicent Merton has said the following of the situation according to IOL.
Source: Facebook
“The Western Cape Education Department is as prepared as can be for the 2021 academic year and will implement the necessary protocols and guidelines. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) will inform us if there are any changes to the latest directions published under the National State of Disaster,” she said.
Teacher unions are in agreement and both Naptosa and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) consider schools to be safer than staying at home for teachers.
However, given how the country is being affected by the virus Sadtu spokesperson Jonavon Rustin is not sure if schools will be able to open at the end of January.
“We will have to wait for the president to address the country next week and then depending on what he says, we will have to engage the DBE about away forward he said.
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that the president of the National Teachers Union (NATU), Allen Thompson, has passed away following a short illness.
At this time there are no details surrounding his death but according to reports, the news of his passing was confirmed by NATU general secretary Cynthia Barnes, who said that details will only be made available to the public once his family has been notified.
Thompson had only been serving as president of NATU for two years after being elected in 2018. Before this, Thomspon had served as deputy president of the teachers union.
In other Briefly.co.za news, two young Eastern Cape sisters have tragically passed on days after each other after succumbing to Covid-19-related complications. Bridget and Samantha Stander, who came from Cradock, a small town near Port Elizabeth, died a few days after each other.
Bridget was only 19 while her older sister Samantha was 27 years old. The news was shared on Facebook by Union High School, a school attended by Bridget, who matriculated from there in 2019.
In the heartbreaking statement, the high school revealed that both sisters had attended Stellenbosch University before their untimely deaths. They also said that Bridget was hospitalised and diagnosed with pneumonia thereafter and she passed on 2 January this year.
Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!
Source: Briefly News
