Absentee rates up to 40% as Covid-19 fears keep pupils at home

Cape Flats mom Farieda Abrahams, from Hanover Park, outside her son’s school, protesting against its opening. Pupil absenteeism has been high since schooling started again.

Image: Esa Alexander/Sunday Times Cape Flats mom Farieda Abrahams, from Hanover Park, outside her son’s school, protesting against its opening. Pupil absenteeism has been high since schooling started again.

A spike in Covid-19 infections at schools and parents’ reluctance to send their children back to class has forced many pupils to stay away.

A teacher and a principal group said many schools had absentee rates of between 30% and 40%.

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