DURBAN - The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) has appealed to its members to make donations, this as part of the effort to assist victims of the latest floods that wreaked havoc in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape recently.
The teachers’ union noted that the floods had left devastation in its wake and education in the province has been particularly hard-hit with more than 600 schools damaged, more than 100 schools inaccessible.
“Naptosa is a caring union. We therefore make an appeal to all our members to contribute to the relief efforts by making a R50 donation,” said Naptosa’s Thirona Moodley.
She added that apart from the general relief needed, there was also a dire need for books for pupils, and the union has also appealed to members of the public to assist in any way possible.
She conceded that there could be a lukewarm attitude on whether the relief funds would be used appropriately, adding that the teacher union had developed a plan to deal with this.
“With the track record we have in South Africa, it is understood that there would be scepticism on the management and application of relief funds. Naptosa, however, believes that as a relief organisation Gift of the Givers Foundation has, over many years, proven that they have the integrity to do so and that our contributions should be directed to them,” she stressed.
Moodley also called on the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the KZN provincial education department to implement emergency plans to provide temporary classrooms, water and ablution facilities, as needed, to the damaged schools.
“The fact that so many schools are unable to open after the Easter weekend without an indication as to when they will be able to return to normal schooling, means that thousands of learners will lose valuable teaching and learning time that can be ill-afforded after the losses suffered during the Covid-19 lockdown measures,” Moodley continued.
She noted that the deaths of pupils and education staff members, the general devastation and the damage to schools would also psychologically affect pupils and staff of the schools involved.
Because of this, she said it was crucial to deploy psycho-social services to the affected schools.
“It is heartening to learn that the provincial education department has already put the necessary wheels in motion to provide such services,” said Moodley.
Naptosa also appealed to the national department and the provincial education department to do a thorough assessment of the impact on schools in the province and to work hand-in-hand with the relevant national, provincial departments and local authorities to ensure that schooling in the province can return to normality in the shortest possible time.
Education Minister Angie Motshekga visited KZN today, meeting with provincial officials including MEC Kwazi Mshengu to get a first-hand account on the extent of the damage caused by the heavy rains at schools in the province.
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