The North West education department has organised a residential camp for matrics attending winter classes, despite sleepovers being discouraged because they have the potential to become Covid-19 superspreader events.
The province’s education department spokesperson, Elias Malindi confirmed that pupils will be attending a camp at Nietverdient outside Zeerust.
A total of 25,365 matric pupils in the province are attending extra lessons at 156 sites, including Nietverdient, scheduled to last from Monday until Sunday. However, 78 pupils set to attend the residential camp are awaiting Covid test results so the camp hasn’t yet started.
Meanwhile, Ben Machipi, general secretary of the Professional Educators’ Union (PEU), said while they discouraged residential camps, they realised that some communities can make it work by putting the necessary safety measures in place.
“We know the majority of schools will not be able to do that but we cannot say that they must be cancelled, because those with the ability and resources to do it will complain.”
All learners and staff should be tested before admission to the camp, and only those that test negative should be allowed in the camp, and there should be no subsequent ‘in and out’ movement in these camps.
— Director-general of basic education Mathanzima Mweli
The Limpopo, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal education departments confirmed to Sunday Times Daily that they will not be holding residential camps because of the level 4 lockdown regulations.
In a circular issued on July 1, director-general of basic education Mathanzima Mweli said residential camps were discouraged and should only be hosted if the “bubble” concept is followed.
“This entails testing of all learners and staff before admission to the camp, and only those that test negative should be allowed in the camp, and there should be no subsequent ‘in and out’ movement in these camps.”
Malindi said that both teachers and pupils who will be at the Nietverdient camp will be tested before settling in at the residences and will be camped for the duration of the winter holiday programme.
He said the winter camps are part of the department’s “flagship” programme and will be managed according to strict Covid-19 protocols”.
“No cramping of learners will be tolerated. Our teachers and learners’ lives are a primary concern to us.”
Malindi said that because the province does not cater for online teaching, the 156 camps will be complemented by the dial-a-tutor programme, manned by a team of subject specialists, who pupils can call through a toll free number.
Limpopo education department spokesperso, Tidimalo Chuene said the winter classes will cater for 60% of matrics from eight education districts with the exception of Waterberg and Capricorn South, which has postponed classes because of the high rate of Covid-19 infections among pupils.
The province will be spending R24m on the winter enrichment programme.
Western Cape education department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said pupils will be attending winter classes at their schools and that food has been arranged for them.
Mpumalanga education department spokesperson Gerald Sambo said residential camps have been discouraged after basic education minister Angie Motshekga’s directive to observe all level 4 lockdown regulations.
Paula Galego, director of the Tshwane South education district in Gauteng, confirmed in a circular dated July 1 that 30 schools will be participating in the holiday classes as part of the Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP) run by the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre.
She said that residential camps were cancelled “due to the rapid increase in Covid cases” and only walk-in camps will take place from July 5 to 9.
“All SSIP schools will run their own stand-alone programmes to curb the spread of infections.”
Tutors employed by Sci-Bono will be paid R460 for a 90-minute session.
The KwaZulu-Natal education department’s acting head of department, Barney Mthembu, confirmed in a circular that there will be no group pupil camps organised at district or provincial level.
His department was last Tuesday forced to scrap a controversial decision asking all matrics to attend class until July 9, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that schools should close on June 30.
The province’s acting chief director for examination, assessment and quality assurance, Ray Penniston, stated in a circular that “the continuation of schooling for grade 12 will assist in addressing the curriculum losses suffered in 2020”.
However, the department hastily withdrew the instruction hours later and apologised for “the confusion it caused regarding the grade 12 closure date”.
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