Pupils at only 12% of primary schools in the Western Cape can return to school at full capacity on Wednesday, with 88% still unable to follow the 1m social distancing rule.
Speaking at the weekly digital media briefing on the province’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic on Thursday, premier Alan Winde said the ongoing rotational learning was further hampering the education of pupils and had a devastating effect on the province.
Winde was joined by Western Cape health department head Dr Keith Cloete and Western Cape health MEC Dr Nomafrench Mbombo.
“I am still calling for the end of the disaster declaration. That declaration has consequences,” Winde said.
“One of the consequences is that it will have a long-term effect on learners in the province.
“A total 88% of our primary schools are not able to fully go back because of this declaration and the 1m rule.”
He said data to support the reopening of schools had already come out in 2021.
“Various education experts, like Nic Spaull from Stellenbosch University, have repeatedly called for the end of the rotational model,” he said.
Cloete said active cases in the province were declining, though it had not officially exited the fourth wave.
“We now see a steady decline of cases [as] there has been an 8% decrease of cases, week on week,” he said.
The Garden Route had exhibited a 19% decrease in cases.
Winde’s view has been supported by education MEC Debbie Schafer.
“Other areas of concern are that many learners are not able to access the feeding programme as often as they should and that the on-off attendance at school is contributing to a higher dropout rate,” she said.
The rotational learning had a huge psychosocial effect on pupils, teachers and even parents, she said.
“Implementing a rotational model in schools is not easy.
“It requires dedicated planning and continued pressure to keep up with the curriculum while teaching different cohorts of learners on different days.”
Mbombo said the department would focus on farm workers and students in the coming weeks.
“This afternoon [Thursday] we are going to have a national council meeting to formulate ways to attract the youth to vaccinate.
“I will be on the Garden Route next week to focus on those who have been slow in vaccinating.”
She is set to visit farms in Mossel Bay, Knysna and the Crags.
“It’s crucial that for young people you go where they are,” she said.
HeraldLIVE