Thousands of primary schools won’t be able to resume classes on a full-time basis today, despite the physical-distancing requirement being reduced from 1.5m to 1m.
The North West education department has said schools in the Bojanala and Ngaka Modiri Molema districts will continue rotational teaching because of overcrowded classrooms.
In the Western Cape 894 primary schools won’t be able to accommodate all pupils on a daily basis.
The Northern Cape education department said only 79 out of 424 primary schools would be able to return to the traditional timetable with the 1m requirement in force.
The Gauteng Department of Education told principals last week that 507 township schools couldn’t receive all their pupils if they adhered to the 1m rule.
The Department of Basic Education told teacher unions and a principals’ association on Saturday that “full capacity schooling” should continue even if schools weren’t able to maintain 1m physical distancing between pupils. The 1m rule was the advice given to the department by the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC).
The return to full capacity only applies to primary and special-needs schools. Many high schools continue to teach on a rotational basis. No-fee schools are most affected.
At Thubisi Primary in Thaba Nchu there will be 51 pupils per class and two learners per desk, so social distancing can’t occur. The school has six vacant classrooms, but has to combine classes because the school is short of seven teachers.
The DA’s Gauteng education spokesperson, Khume Ramulifho, conducted an oversight visit to Cosmo City Junior Primary School in Johannesburg on Friday. Ramulifho said the school had to continue with rotational teaching because of its huge enrolment. About 2,100 pupils have to be accommodated in a space for just over 1,000.
According to Wits University vaccinology professor Shabir Madhi good ventilation and face masks indoors would be more useful than focussing on physical distancing.