WCED happy about learner attendance, following taxi strike; MEC appeals for more learners to return to school

The Western Cape’s Education Department (WCED) applauded parents for sending their children back to school on Monday.

The department saw a decrease in attendance across the province, following the taxi strike.

PICTURE: Pixabay

 

Despite the taxi strike being called off on Thursday evening, the number of learners who did not attend classes on Friday, stood at 739 569 learners and 5 533 teachers were absent from school on Friday.

 

On Monday, says the WCED, 1 074 649 learners, or 89% of all learners enrolled, were in class, and 52 271 staff members, or 93% of school staff members, at school.

‘’We thank all those parents who responded to our call to bring their children back to school. While we are pleased at the increase in learner attendance, they are still a little short of normal levels, which should be closer to 92%,’’ said David Maynier, Education MEC.

‘’Now that the minibus taxi strike is over, we appeal to parents to please work with us and ensure that children go back to school. We need our learners back in class, so that we can work on getting them #BackonTrack,’’ he added.

Maynier appealed to residents to verify information, and not spread disinformation. On Monday, a message circulated on social media that the minibus taxi strike, would resume, but this was deemed false.

‘’Concerned parents at some schools collected their children early. SANTACO-WC has confirmed that the claimed resumption of the strike was fake news.’’

‘’Please do not share information that has not been verified, because it has the potential to cause fear and disruption. We simply cannot afford to lose one more day of teaching and learning at our schools in the Western Cape,’’ said David Maynier, Education MEC.

 

Done By: Mitchum George