Question NW1266 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
13 July 2020 - NW1266
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) What total number of (a) educators have declared that they suffer from comorbidities since 1 June 2020 and (b) the specified educators are currently working from home; (2) what are the details of the work that the educators who are working from home are conducting; (3) whether she will take any steps to address the vacancies left by the educators who cannot teach from home; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1(a) As at 23 June 2020, 16 168 educators had declared co-morbidities. The processing of applications is ongoing, and therefore the numbers are not final.
(b) The number of educators who work from home, will be finalised once the process of approving and granting all concessions has been completed. Collective Agreement 1 of 2020 provides for a concession for educators employed in terms of the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act No.76 of 1998), (EEA), who are at risk in terms of the listed COVID-19 risk factors. The concession provides for measures to accommodate such educators in the workplace or working from home. Therefore, not all educators will work from home.
2. The work that the educators working from home perform, depends on the nature of work and the availability of resources or tools of trade. Therefore, the work could range from conducting classes remotely to basic level preparing lesson plans, all within the official job description of the educator.
3. A substitute will be provided where needed. Provision of a substitute and the type of a substitute provided, will depend on the extent of work the educator at home is able to accomplish. This may range from a fully qualified substitute to fully replace an educator at home to a teacher aid or assistant that will act under the guidance of the educator at home, or another educator present at school.