More than 739k learners absent from WC schools on Friday, despite SANTACO stayaway ending
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has urged parents to send their child to school on Monday, as the SANTACO taxi stayaway has ended.
MEC, David Maynier said 739 569 learners and 5533 teachers were
absent from school on Friday. At the height of the strike, 852 259 learners
stayed at home from school, which is 71% of learners in the Western Cape.
PICTURE; PixabayMaynier said learner and teacher absenteeism dealt a devastating
blow to education and its efforts to recover learning losses due to COVID-19.
‘’We appeal to parents to please send their children to
school on Monday. All schools are open today and we are ready to welcome
them. We need to catch up on the
curriculum and prepare appropriately for assessments and examinations,’’ said
David Maynier, Western Cape Education MEC.
‘’#BackonTrack programmes were also disrupted. This past
weekend, tutoring programmes catering for over 14 000 learners had to be
cancelled because of the minibus taxi strike.’’
The #BackonTrack programme is aimed at providing extra
lessons to learners to recover the learning losses experienced as a result of
the pandemic.
‘’The closure of schools, and the subsequent phased
approach to the school timetable, resulted in a decline in learner performance
across many grades. The Western Cape has therefore invested R1.3 billion over a
three-year period to improve results. Following the disruption this week, this
has taken us one step backwards – and sadly, it is the learner that suffers as
a result,’’ said Maynier.
‘’But we will not remain defeated. It will strengthen our
resolve and commitment to support our schools and drive our recovery programme
even harder. This kind of commitment and dedication was evident this week, with
thousands of educators showing real concern and anguish for their learners over
the loss of teaching and learning time. Matric teachers were especially
concerned about their learners, as Grade 12’s only have 80 days left until
their National Senior Certificate examinations. Every day counts at this stage!,’’
added David Maynier, Western Cape Education MEC.
Done By: Mitchum George
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