Sol Plaatje must turn streetlights on for festive season
| by Priscilla Isaacs, MPL – DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Education |
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| Date: 26 May 2020 |
| Release: Immediate |
| Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English & Afrikaans from Priscilla Isaacs, MPL. After the sudden postponement of yesterday’s scheduled briefing from the Northern Cape Department of Education and in light of community concerns, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will request the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature to schedule an emergency briefing from the department with the Office of the Premier.Currently, the provincial department of Education under MEC Mac Jack does more to escalate than to alleviate concerns about the re-opening of schools. Although the department reported to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature on their reprioritizations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic last week, recent developments cast a long shadow over some information given by the department. We simply cannot trust them to provide sufficient data, which we need to bring Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners safely back to schools.While MEC Jack created the impression during the recent reprioritization report that schools would be safe for teachers to return yesterday, precautions had not been taken at all schools.In fact, it seems that only one school in Namaqua reports that all precautions are taken. We applaud these efforts from the school community, but it must be replicated with the support promised by the provincial department at all schools in the province.Oversight done by our councillors in the Dawid Kruiper Local Municipality showed that all schools remained closed. As of yesterday, some schools did not receive some of the promised personal protective equipment yet and some schools do not have soap or adequate water supply to practice the necessary sanitation. While the MEC confidently told the Legislature last week that all schools in the districts had been cleaned, some of the schools reported that no cleaning had been done.Likewise, while the MEC averred that schools vandalized during lockdown had been repaired, it now appears that some repairs are still outstanding.It does not come as a surprise that provincial unions advised teachers to stay away from schools until all precautions are properly taken. The co-operation between the MEC and unions is also very worrying. It is clear that unions are not plotting a coup or planning to seize his political powers, but trying to fulfil their duties to school communities. Without a stable relationship between all stakeholders in the sector, the province will not regain lost ground in the matric results and the quality of education offered to children will continue to suffer.In our requested briefing, we want much more accuracy on how social distance norms upheld, especially in schools who already reported overcrowding. The province proved itself incapable of installing mobile structures efficiently during an emergency, with the replacement of infrastructure damaged by suspected arson in Pixkley ka Seme just one of many examples. Unfortunately, this poor track record places questions behind the department’s capacity to procure all face masks, sanitisers, and other protective items as a matter of urgency.We also need more detail regarding teachers who are older than sixty or who have any of the chronic ailments identified as co-morbidities. We need to know if these teachers will work from home and how many substitute educators are needed, particular for critical subjects.It does not help us to open the doors of learning when the MEC cannot answer basic questions sufficiently. Nor does it help us when the MEC hides from scrutiny by postponing media briefings or ignores written requests for information since his appointment as MEC of Education.For the sake of our school communities and for the safety of our children, premier Saul needs to take action within his provincial administration.As the Democratic Alliance, we cannot allow our learners to become yet another victim to the coronavirus. |
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