Cape Town - THE Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has urged schools who will amend their timetables for full attendance and resume contact sports, to keep in mind the Covid-19 infection rate in their communities and adhere to strict compliance with all health and safety regulations.
After months of work and no play, pupils will now be allowed to take part in extracurricular activities including all sports that were stopped to curb the spread of the virus.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga published amended directions on Saturday that indicate physical learning, oral history, speech contests, debates and school clubs, choir competitions and inter-school choir events can resume.
This will be subject to rules including no spectators, even though schools are allowed to travel to other schools or provinces and participate in championships, tournaments and inter-school sport matches.
Other functions including church services, weddings, or social functions may still not resume at schools.
Head of department for the WCED, Brian Schreuder said while these directions will be welcomed by many schools who have been eager to commence extracurricular activities, they come at a time when the country is also preparing for a possible third wave of infections.
“South Africa moved to Alert Level 1 nearly a month ago, and since then, we have seen some concerning sporadic rises in infections in some communities. These are taking place in all districts across the province. How we act and behave as individuals, school leaders, educators and learners, can help to reduce its impact.”
Schreuder urged schools to read the directions carefully saying there can be no room for error or complacency.
“Consider what is happening in your immediate communities at any given time. Should you decide to resume close contact sports and inter-school competitions and tournaments, then strict compliance with all the health and safety regulations is required.
“This also applies to the everyday functioning of your schools. I am aware that many schools have amended their timetables back to 100% attendance. Please be reminded that this is on condition that your school has the space to do so, while still complying with all the health, safety, and social distancing requirements,” said Schreuder.
SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said the union's National Executive Committee will meet today and tomorrow and the directions would be discussed.
Cape Times