16/06/2020
TO THE EDUCATION LEADERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE WESTERN CAPE
I teach at a State school on the Cape Flats. Amidst our anxiety, worry and concern, our staff worked tirelessly to ensure our school readiness to receive our Grade 12 learners. Teachers had to put their hands into their own pockets to buy necessary items for their classrooms.
We did this out of concern for the safety of our learners and ourselves.
Our Grade 12 learners have returned to school. ALL our teachers have to be on duty ALL day to ensure that ALL the Standard Operating Procedures are adhered to. This is mentally and emotionally draining for teachers and learners.
Our Grade 8 to 11 learners have been home since 18 March...WITHOUT access to online and digital teaching/learning....
This post is not to encourage their return, because my personal opinion is that it is almost suicidal to put masses of teachers and learners at the frontline of a life/death situation.
My post rather is about the huge sacrifices made by "struggling" schools...because just down the road from our school is an ex-Model C Primary school where the Grade 7 learners attend school only alternate weeks.
My question...Do they not have sufficient staff to teach ONLY 1 grade???
UNEQUAL and they get away with it even though the directive is that Grade 7's attend school every day...THEN...
Just a little way further an ex-Model C High School has recalled their Grade 8 and 9 learners to return on 22 and 23 June...even though the DBE has stated 03 August as the return date for these grades. This CONCESSION is with the blessing of the Head of Education in the Western Cape....
Where does this leave our Grade 8 and 9 learners? Who gives the WC the authority to continue to do as it pleases?
Did our POOR, DISADVANTAGED school miss a memo to give us the right to do as we please??
Stop this inequality...our children are being left behind.
Dawn Crowie