Staff Reporter
Most schools in the Free State will be ready to receive Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners on Monday as South Africa implements the phased re-opening plan, Education MEC Tate Makgoe has said.
Speaking via video link during a media briefing hosted by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga Sunday afternoon, Makgoe said schools across the province have received most of the requirements they need to curb the spread of the coronavirus and will be ready to resume classes.
“We are very ready for the learners on the 8th (of June),” said Makgoe, who spoke from the Free State.
“We have sent all the COVID-19 essentials such as sanitisers, liquid soap, masks, thermometers, disinfectants . . . all those things were delivered to all the schools in the province.”
He added: “We must also mention that deep cleaning has been done and it was mostly done by parents and volunteers.”
At least 72 schools in the province were vandalised during the national lockdown —which started in March — and most of them have been fixed.
Makgoe said all schools with water challenges had received water tanks and most have already been connected to water supplies while just a few remain.
The MEC was however quick to point out there could be challenges as schools open tomorrow, although he did not expect any serious issues to arise as most of the work has been done.
Cleaners have also been appointed in all schools to ensure cleanliness at all times.
“We have also appointed screeners in all the schools and they have already been trained by the department of health . . . as they are the lead department in the in the fight against COVID-19 in the country,” Makgoe said.
The MEC said every school has been linked to a primary healthcare centre to ensure all emergencies are dealt with expeditiously.
He said social distancing will be observed religiously at all times and teachers as well as school management teams have been trained on how to conduct themselves when dealing with learners.
Some parents, he said, had also come forward voluntarily for training.
“Some parents have come for orientation and training, so they understand what needs to happen and be able to support their own learners,” Makgoe said.
Earlier, basic education director general Mathanzima Hubert Mweli said all the 1 123 schools inspected in the Free State were declared ready to receive learners.
Motshekga said in her overall report that at least 95 percent of the schools in the country are ready to open.