Question NW1416 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
21 July 2020 - NW1416
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) With regard to her announcement for schools to reopen after the lockdown period, how does her department ensure that on (a) 8 June 2020 and (b) 6 July 2020 (details furnished) each learner will be seated at a desk within the 1,5 meter social distancing requirements; (2) how will the shortage of desks in each province be solved prior to the learners returning on (a) 8 June 2020, (b) 6 July 2020 and (c) 3 August 2020; (3) how will the shortages of classrooms in each province be resolved to accommodate the seating within 1,5 m social distancing requirements?
Reply:
(1). In order to address social distancing requirements when schools reopened on 8 June 2020 and the additional cohort on 6 July 2020 and subsequently on 03 August 2020, and ensuring that each learner will be seated at a desk within the 1,5 meter social distancing requirements; the Department of Basic Education (DBE) released the Standard Operating Procedures for the Containment and Management of COVID-19 for Childcare Facilities, Schools and School Communities which provide guidelines for all administrators on the steps that need to be undertaken in order to prevent the spread and manage cases of COVID-19, which include social distancing. Provinces are providing mobile classrooms for additional spaces, which are provided with the requisite furniture/desks, as well identifying additional spaces inside the school campuses and or around the school to address any additional needs for space. Also in addressing the shortage of desks and space/classrooms, provinces are also implementing non-infrastructure solutions, which include timetabling models to address these shortages that cannot be addressed in a short pace of time. In implementing these, schools will not need additional space and desks to address social distancing. These are:
- Weekly rotational arrangement (groups/grades attending school on alternate weeks).
- Groups/Grades of learners alternating classes/lessons on different days of the week (e.g. alternate days);
- Platooning/shift arrangement (one group/grades of learners in the morning till midday and the next group/grades in the afternoon)
- Hybrid of the aforementioned (Combination of the above).
(2) Provinces, where needed and where possible, procured additional furniture to address the shortages. Schools are also repurposing double combination desks into single desks to address the challenge. However, due to budget cuts and insufficient budgets , the models indicated above are being used to address ameliorate these challenges.
(3) As per (1) and (2) above