More than 4000 teachers not back in classes as yet
While the department of education attempts to salvage what’s left of the 2021 academic calendar, Gauteng MEC Panyaza Lesufi said about 4,000 teachers were not ready to return to work.
Thousands of pupils went back to the classroom on Monday for the start of the third term.
Schools were forced to close early last month for the winter holidays due to the third wave of COVID-19 infections.
MEC Panyaza Lesufi said despite encountering some challenges, 98% of students studying were ready for the full return of primary school pupils to the classroom from next week.
Lesufi, however, said that only 93% of teachers had been able to come back to work. He said that the remaining 7% had not been able to get vaccinated, citing various reasons including having underlying health conditions and vaccine hesitancy.
“Personnel is dealing with that matter on our behalf. Whether I should take drastic measures or not, I am not of that view, I feel that we should persuade until everyone accepts. That was the best way to protect the sector,” Lesufi said.
Lesufi said that the province was also working to address infrastructure problems at schools, including the provision of mobile classrooms as primary school pupils prepared to return to daily classes.
