Over 110 W. Cape schools will operate at 100%; 38 schools vandalised, burgled

116 primary schools in the Western Cape will operate at full capacity, from Monday.

The Department of Basic Education announced that primary schools can operate fully, depending on various health and safety protocols, including a 1 metre physical distancing measure.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says 894 out of the 1 010 schools in the province cannot comply with the 1 metre physical distancing rule, and therefore have been approved to continue with rotational basis.

‘’The WCED has decided, in terms of the differentiated risk adjusted strategy and the health and safety requirements, to allow for schools who have indicated that they are unable to safely return to a traditional timetabling model, to continue with their revised timetables based on rotation,’’ says WCED spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond.

38 out of 72 special needs schools in the Western Cape will also return to 100% capacity.

‘’These figures do not surprise us, as it mirrors similar figures when schools could apply for 100% attendance earlier this year,’’ added Hammond.

At the same time, the WCED revealed that 38 Western Cape schools have reported incidents of vandalism, burglary, or attempted burglary, over the July school holidays.

Items stolen included sports equipment, gardening and maintenance equipment, fencing, building fixtures, lighting and electrical cables, IT equipment, stationery, kitchen equipment, and food for school meals.

‘’I am extremely disappointed that our schools have once again been targeted by ruthless criminals while closed for the holidays. Our schools are already operating in difficult circumstances, and the last thing they need is to be further disrupted by damages and theft. Even where nothing was stolen, the attempts by these criminals to gain access to a school property caused damage to infrastructure.’’ Said Education MEC, Debbie Schafer

The MEC urged the public to report any suspicious activity in the vicinity of schools to SAPS or the Safe Schools hotline on 0800 45 46 47

 

Done By: Mitchum George

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