Staff Reporter
Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe has criticised members of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) for disrupting classes at some schools in the province saying most of the learners affected were from ‘poor schools’ and they may struggle to catch up.
Makgoe said this when he met with COSAS provincial leaders after they went around pulling students out of the classrooms a few days last week claiming the provincial government had not made adequate preparations to reopen schools after the national lockdown in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MEC said the decision to implement a phased reopening of schools was not rushed as several factors were considered.
“Unfortunately, you are disrupting schools of the poor people,” Makgoe told COSAS representatives at the end of their meeting.
“The children attending ex-Model C schools who have got internet and TVs at home continue to learn,” he said.
The national Department of Basic Education has created online platforms for learners to access some of their learning material.
There is also scheduled programming on television.
“I went to various schools in Mangaung here before they opened . . . just to make sure that we are safe,” Makgoe said.
“You don’t understand that if anybody dies at school . . . we or me as the MEC will have to go to court. So, we can’t take that risk ourselves.”
Makgoe assured the student leaders that the government acted on expert advice to reopen schools and that it would be grossly irresponsible to act outside that.
“Just to give you that certainty, there’s no gung-ho . . . what the media is saying . . . take the children to slaughter house. Who would do that? Which government can do that?” he said.
“But look also at the international community . . . and see what is happening in other countries. People are going back to school.”
COSAS provincial secretary Tsietsi Mbolekwa then promised to work closely with the provincial education department so everyone is kept informed.
“As COSAS, we will keep on communicating with the department of education. So, when there are issues, we will communicate with your office. We undertake to work with you going forward, MEC,” Mbolekwa said in his closing remarks.
The school disruptions are said to have spread to Botshabelo and Welkom, among other areas.
Chief among their demands, COSAS wanted all learners to be tested before getting into class.
This was after a few confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported at some schools in the province while others were just suspected after some learners had presented with flu-like symptoms during screening.
The education department was however adamant that testing for the coronavirus can only be done after screening and that not everyone is supposed to be tested.