The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has postponed a public briefing to outline the phased approach of the reopening of schools amid the COVID-19 lockdown.
The briefing was initially scheduled for Thursday 14 May however, the department said in a statement that it has been moved to Monday 18 May.
The postponement was made to allow further consultation with stakeholders in the education sector, said the DBE.
“The Minister will address a media briefing after receiving full reports from all provinces on the readiness to open schools. We appeal for patience as we work to find the best way forward under the circumstances,” said the department’s Director-General Mathanzima Mweli.
Mweli said the department will hold a special meeting with the heads of education departments from all provinces. Minister Angie Motshekga will be meeting with MECs on Monday to discuss the progress made, before the national address.
The meeting’s purpose will be to analyse the work done by provinces this week, including taking delivery of COVID-19 essentials required as preconditions for the reopening of schools.
“In the meeting on Monday, we will receive a full report which we can then share with the public. We will also use the meeting to table President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address which is also important for our planning purposes,” she said.
President Ramaphosa said in his address on Wednesday that workplaces, schools, universities and colleges need to re-organise to limit transmission.
