The Department of Basic Education has scrapped mid-year exams for matric pupils.

This was announced by Minister Angie Motshekga during a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education.

Motshekga said the move is to allow Grade 12 pupils more time to cover the curriculum.

“We want to make up for the loss of time and for them to cover the curriculum. They did not go on holiday in March and most of the schools are giving extra classes.

“The June period of exams will be used to cover the curriculum. We also have a team monitoring Covid-19 infections on a daily basis,” Motshekga said.

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) General Secretary Mugwena Maluleke said learners have lost a lot of learning time due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown which has put restrictions on how many can attend class at a time.

“Last year’s grade 11 pupils were hit hard by losing so much of the school year in 2020.

“Grade 11, in terms of the phased opening of schools, after those first couple of months in the first term, they didn’t return to school in 2020 until July,” he said.

Adding that the grade 12 class of 2021 was in a much more difficult situation than last year’s class.

Maluleke said grade 12 teachers had to work backward to help their learners catch up with the grade 11 syllabus.  “There is a serious backlog and the situation is very serious,” he added.

The minister said regarding the grade 12 class of 2021, the education authorities will try to keep these learners in school for as long as possible, in order to try to cover the gaps.

“They are grade 11s of 2020 and already the whole curriculum was not covered. They lost close to 60% of school time over the period,” said Motshekga.

Committee chair Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said all public-school learners lost 54% of teaching time.

 She said the committee noted the loss in learning hours that has already occurred in the 2021 school year, due to the academic year starting later.

“The majority of learners not attending five days of schooling per week as they were using a rotational system.

“This together with the loss of learning hours in 2020, does not bode well for our education system. We know and understand that it is not a South African phenomenon but a world-wide challenge, however we remain concerned,” Mbinqo-Gigaba emphasised.

She said this was quite a lot and it would not be easy to recover.

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NALEDI SHOTA|

Several provinces have opened the process of application for admissions in public schools for the 2022 academic year. 

The provincial departments of education that have already begun with this process have urged parents to apply on time to allow them enough time to prepare for the academic year next year.

This week, the Department of Basic Education released the academic calendar for coastal and inland schools. Coastal schools will open on 19 January while inland schools will do so on 12 January. 

READ: DBE releases 2022 school calendar

The Western Cape Department of Education was the first to kick off admissions in February and the process ended on 31 March. In a statement last month, the department said between the time admissions opened until they were closed in March it had recorded 408 672 applications. 

The Western Cape is one of the provinces that battle with an influx of learners into that province that it battles to place them in schools on time. For this academic year some learners in that province were only placed last month in schools.

The Northern Cape Department of Education opened online admissions on Tuesday for grades R, one and eight and it said on the first day it had already received 5600 applications. 

MEC of Education in the Northern Cape, Zolile Monakali, encouraged parents to be “responsible” and apply on time. 

“[Let’s] make sure we register our children on time so that the education system can open and run smoothly as we are preparing for the 2022 academic year,” said Monakali on Tuesday.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education opened for admissions on 3 May and the process will run until 1 October. In Limpopo the process opened on 17 May to 30 July for walk-in registration, while the online registration, at selected schools, will run from Today until 6 August. The province is piloting online admission. 

Other provinces are yet to announce the start date of their admissions processes. 

Last month, the DA in Gauteng criticized the Gauteng Education for not having started with its admission process. 

In a statement, DA shadow MEC Khumo Ramulifho, urged MEC of education Panyaza Lesufi to open online admissions from last month and for the process to be concluded in October. 

“By moving the online admission earlier, this will ensure that no learner misses a day of schooling when the new academic year begins as all allocations will be done timeously,”  said Ramulifho at the time. 

However, the province is yet to announce when it will open the online application system for the 2022 academic year. Gauteng, just like the Western Cape, is one of the provinces that battles large numbers of learners applying at the province’s schools. Some learners were also just placed in schools at the end of March. 

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NALEDI SHOTA|  

The National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has come out in support of the plans by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to allow primary school learners and learners from special education needs schools to return to class daily. 

On Friday, DBE Minister Angie Motshekga gazetted that on 26 July learners in grade R to seven would return to class daily as well as grade R to 12 at special education needs schools.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 last year, learners have been attending school on a rotational system in order for schools to adhere to Covid-19 regulations such as social distancing. 

On Monday the department appeared before the committee to, amongst other things, present its plans to allow all primary school learners and those at special education needs back at school daily next month. 

In the presentation, the department said last year alone primary school learners lost 54% of contact time, 23% of this was due to the total closure of schools during lockdown and about 27% was as result of rotational attendance. 

The department said Director General, Mathanzima Mweli, will be doing weekly one-on-one engagements with provinces to gauge the extent of readiness before 26 July.

Provinces will also be expected to report on their progress to comply with health protocols to minimise the spread of the virus, and this they would have to do weekly. 

DBE has said that it expects a pushback on its decision from various quarters including through litigation, but said it was having ongoing engagements with stakeholders and would also use science as a defence in litigation. 

In a statement, committee chairperson Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, said the committee supports the decision to have primary school learners returning to school full-time. 

“We support this decision as long as the DBE can ensure that there is a safe and secure environment to go back to school. I have noticed that there has been regress when the younger ones only have alternative days of schooling,” she said.

Mbinqo-Gigaba said the loss of learning hours in 2020 is not good for the education system. 

“We know and understand that it is not a South African phenomenon but a world-wide challenge, however we remain concerned.”

In the gazette, Motshekga said the return of the learners to class full-time would depend on the direction the pandemic is taking in district municipalities and the country. 

Motshekga has also told the committee that the DBE decisions on the return to school is done in consultation with the Department of Health and that  should the health department  advise otherwise if the country finds itself in third wave the DBE would  reconsider and revise its position regarding the daily return of learners.

On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country would return to level 2 of the lockdown as cases of Covid-19 are going up again. Ramaphosa said provinces such as Gauteng, Northern Cape , North West and Free State were already in the third wave. 

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The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) says teachers are panicking about going back to full-time attendance at primary schools end July.

The union’s executive director, Basil Manuel, said teachers are concerned about overcrowded classrooms, the looming third wave, and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) ‘s ability to supply proper and sufficient PPE.

The concern comes after the announcement by DBE Minister Angie Motshekga on Friday that her department has gazetted that primary school learners from Grades R to 7 must return to the daily attendance and traditional timetabling model from 26 July and that all learners from Grade R to Grade 12 from special education needs school must also return to school everyday on the same date.

Motshekga’s gazette comes amid rising Covid-19 infections across the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced that the country has been moved to Adjusted Level two following an increase in Covid-19 infection rates.

Ramaphosa said over the last seven days, we have seen an average of 3,745 daily new infections. He said this is an increase of 31% on the previous week, and an increase of 66% on the week before that.

The president said the provinces of Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Gauteng have reached the threshold of a third wave of infections. And that it may only be a matter of time before the country as a whole will have entered a third wave.

Ramaphosa said the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19 has as a result recommended that the country urgently implement further restrictions to limit the increase in infections.
 
“The committee bases this recommendation on the sustained increase in new cases in the last 14 days, increased hospital admissions in almost all provinces and an increase in the proportion of Covid tests that are positive.
 
“Further restrictions are necessary to ensure that health facilities are not overwhelmed and that lives that could be saved are not lost,” said Ramaphosa.

Because of the surge in infections, the Council of Education Ministers in May took the decision to suspend all contact sports in schools with immediate effect. The decision was taken in a meeting held on 19 May 2021.

Dr Granville Whittle, acting Director-General for DBE said it was evident that despite following the protocols as guided by the Directions on extramural activities and Standard Operating Procedures, contact sport events still contribute to the spread of Covid -19.

“In this regard, all contact sport activities have been suspended with immediate effect until the cluster outbreaks are contained and the country has emerged from the expected third wave of the Covid -19 pandemic,” said Whittle at the time.

This is why it is surprising to some that Motshekga and her department have taken the decisions to amend the Directions regarding the re-opening of schools.

Manuel said as a result of this, teachers who suffer from comorbidities are in a state of panic.

“The spectre of a large cohort of children back at school sends fears into them notwithstanding the fact that our experts are telling us that the children in the primary school are not really infected or infectious,” said Manuel.

He added that Naptosa understands the rationale for amendment of rules but the union is concerned about this.

“We acknowledge that there are serious backlogs, particularly in your grades 1, 2 and 3s with a large cohort of grade 2s still being unable to read.

“At the same time, we have to raise the issues of the department’s ability to supply sufficient and quality PPE as well as the looming third wave,” said Manuel.

Educators Union of South Africa provincial chairperson André de Bruyn said in just two weeks after the DBE announced the immediate suspension of all contact sport, they gazetted that all primary school learners should return to full capacity.

De Bruyn said full classes means more contact.

“Does that not defeat the purpose of social distancing? In reality it is extremely difficult to make learners follow protocols throughout the day,” he said.

 The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu)’s Xolani Fakude said they fully support the department’s directive but the health and safety of learners and staff should come forst.

“We will be monitoring schools to ensure that they follow the Covid-19 regulations because the number of cases continue to rise and we do not want to put the lives of learners and educators at risk,” said Fakude.

 Fakude said Sadtu has also called for the mass vaccination of educators.

Last week Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke urged all its eligible members to get vaccinated. This is because there is still no information on when wall teachers will become eligible for the jab.

Maluleke said the union believed that teachers would be the next group vaccinated after healthcare workers and that the vaccine rollout has been confusing.

“We are demanding for a date for teacher vaccinations to take place and we encourage teachers to register,” he said.

The DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the department has time to monitor schools and ensure learners and teachers return to a safe environment in July.

“As off Monday, we will be meeting with provincial departments to make sure that all Covid-19 regulations are adhered to and schools are ready to accommodate all grade R to 7 learners,” said Mhlanga.

Mhlanga said they have the whole of June to prepare effectively.

Extra reporting by Nyakallo Tefu.

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Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi visited Cornwall Hill College in Irene, Pretoria, on Monday morning following allegations of racism at the school.

Last week, at the school’s annual fund-raising golf day at the Pretoria Country Club, parents held a peaceful protest against the racism experienced by their children at the school as well as the lack of diversity and the slow pace of transformation.

Parents and learners also gathered at the school this morning. They handed a memorandum against racism and the lack of transformation at the school to the school management and to Lesufi.

Parents also called on the school’s principal to resign for what they say is his failure to ensure an anti-discriminatory and non-racial environment at the school.

Learners at the school shared their traumatic experiences on video. Some said their teachers told them that black people come from apes.

Others said they have been referred to as “bloody k*ffirs”.

The learners also said they are not allowed to speak their mother tongues at the school and their natural hair is often called messy and dirty.

Singo Ravele, a learner at the school, shared how racism at the school has affected her.

Singo shared her first and most vivid memory when she was only in the fourth grade.

I was so happy to he accepted into the school, she said.

“And as a child I began to imagine a fairy-tale for myself. And that didn’t happen. Very soon that dream died,” said the girl.

“It died when a community that I loved did not love me back.

“And although I managed to find friends,” she said and began to cry, covering her face with her hand.

At this point, another girl walked to Singo at the podium holding the placard: “Racists must leave Cornwall Hill College”. The words “racists” and “leave” boldened and highlighted in red. The girl stood at Singo’s side, silent.

Singo’s father walked to her at the podium and held her.

Other learners screamed words of encouragement and began to clap.

“… and although I managed to find friends,” Singo said, her voice breaking, “I didn’t manage to escape the discrimination.”

“And that is not a dream at all. It is a nightmare,” she said.

This is not the first time that Cornwall Hill College is In the news because of racism.

Former Cornwall Hill College learner Kholofelo Mashitisho said, “I went to Cornwall Hill College, I am so glad these kids are doing what we were scared to do. I am proud.”

She added that at the high school, “you raise your voice, you get expelled”.

Another former pupil and head boy said: “I stand and fully support the class of 2021 calling out racism and standing up for a fully inclusive CHC (sic). Why has the school’s leadership ignored such accounts of racism for so long? Racists are not welcome, they must leave,” he said.

Addressing parents, media and learners this morning, Gauteng education MEC said: “I am worried about time, we committed that we will conclude this session by 07:30 so that we can demonstrate to those that think we are not human beings that we can adhere to time as well.

Lesufi said they, “these people”, may have oppressed our grandparents and succeeded. They may have oppressed our parents and succeeded, but they will not oppress our children and our children’s children, said Lesufi.

“It ends here, and it stops here,” said Lesufi.

He said his discussion with the school leadership was clear in that the school management had to go back to the negotiating table and make it clear everyone is very welcome in the school.

This was met with applause.

He added that the school management must stop “with the obsession with the hair of our children”.

In his address, Lesufi declared “racism ends here and goes no further”. The MEC made commitments that the school will have teachers that represent everyone.

He said all the policies will be reviewed so that they become accommodative.

The South African Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, also took part in the morning protest.

Kganyago said his protest was done in his capacity as a parent and not as the SARB governor.

Kganyago held a placard with the words: “We stand by our children. No to racism”.

Kganyago ‘s daughter is a learner at the school.

He said there is systemic racism at Cornwall Hill College.

“The number of black learners has never been more than 25%. Secondly, the school has 66 educators and five of them are black and three of those black educators are concentrated in the Sepedi department,” Kganyago said.

Learners at the school also said there were incidents of racism including being separated at the tuckshop lines based on race. White learners would have their own line, while black learners had their own line.

Lesufi said that no one was out for revenge for what had happened in the past but he was pleading for inclusivity.

“We will have teachers that represent all of us and all the policies will be reviewed, so I urge you to protect this school. But in protecting this school, we must not protect the wrong things. Even those that hate non-racialism, this is the future and no one can stop it,” Lesufi said.

Singo penned three testimonies into the addendum that was later handed to Lesufi and the school’s management.

Singo said her first and very vivid memory of racism happened when she was only in the fourth grade. She said she was  happily on my way to break when a teacher stopped her.

“She had this big frown that swallowed me whole.

“She looked me dead in the eyes and said, ‘Your hair’s unpresentable, it is messy and it’s not the Cornwall way.’ She also proceeded to tell me that I would look better if I chemically straightened my hair.

“When I got older, I became angry. I was stripped from my African identity. And that was one time, one moment, one person,” she said.

Leon Kunneke, Executive Principal at Cornwall Hill College said the school was aware at the peaceful protest action around diversity and transformation of the school. He said the school acknowledges the parents’ pleas and recognise the importance of active and inclusive engagement.

He said the school’s board is unequivocally committed to transformation.

“Matters relating to diversity are being revisited,” he said.

“They include hair policy, anti-discriminatory policy and a framework where matters of concern raised by pupils, past and present, could be addressed,” said Kunneke.

 

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Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has called on Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to institute an enquiry into Equal Education’s fitness to work with children following the untimely death of a minor, who died at a camp that was organised by Equal Education.

This comes after 15-year-old grade 10 pupil from Xolani High School in the Eastern Cape Avethandwa Nokhangela drowned while attending a leadership camp at Palm Springs Resort outside East last month.

Makaneta said the teaching community is extremely disturbed by the news of the untimely death of Avethandwa passing.

Makaneta asked that the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education institute an enquiry into Avethandwa’s death “with a view to ensure that the NGO is held accountable for the incident that has caused trauma and shock to the entire country”, he said.

“It should be clear from preliminary reports that Equal Education failed to protect the life of Avethandwa, and they should therefore take full responsibility and apologise to the nation.

“Equally they should offer to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education even before they are called to explain themselves,” said Makaneta.

Equal Education has since released a statement that its law centre is leading an independent investigation and will conclude a fact-finding process.

The NGO said its national council has appointed an independent panel to review the process and make finding on the circumstances surrounding learner’s passing.

“It has not been easy to respond to some criticism in the media around the immediate disclosure of what happened on 29 April.

“We believe that the compassionate approach – which was to prioritise support to the grieving family, learners and our staff – was the correct one in the circumstances. We also chose to respect Avethandwa’s family’s request for space after laying her to rest. Not only would divulging details in these circumstances have been insensitive and uncaring, it would prejudice the Equal Education Law Centre’s fact finding inquiry and the work of the independent panel,” said the Equal Education’s board.

Last week Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga also criticised the NGO.

“So many unanswered questions yet Equal Education is nowhere to take responsibility and shed light publicly on what really happened regarding Avethandwa’s death,” said Mhlanga.

In response, Equal Education’s Professor Mary Metcalfe said the loss of Avethandwa is terrible – and in such tragic circumstances for the family.

“But it is unfair to take such a hostile attitude to Equal Education. Let the enquiry inform us of what can all learn from this incident,” said Metcalfe.

Adding that she regards the NGO as an asset to the country.

Mhlanga, Like Makaneta, said the department has not taken a hostile attitude against the NGO but that Equal Education must account like everyone else.

Makaneta said Equal Education as an NGO should not only fight for equality, but they must also obey the laws of the country by ensuring that the lives of the children under their care are protected.

“It cannot be correct that such a young life was lost whilst under the care of the NGO,” he said.

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NYAKALLO TEFU| 

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NFSAS) has broken its silence on the death of eThekwini TVET College student, Yonwabo Manyanya.

According to media reports Manyanya died of hunger and fatigue at the age of 26 after NSFAS failed to pay her allowance and tuition fees and she was evicted from her college residence.

She allegedly died of hunger and fatigue after spending three days sleeping outside campus.

NSFAS has denied allegations that it delayed the eThekwini student’s payment.

“There are allegations in the public domain that NSFAS has delayed paying allowances to cover the cost of accommodation time and that Manyanya subsequently suffered from fatigue and hunger as a consequence of this delay. These allegations are factually incorrect, based on information we have, and that the college has,” said NSFAS.

NSFAS said for funding to continue, a student is required to meet the NSFAS progression requirements.

Sibongile Mncwabe, Chief Corporate Services Officer said while Manyanya was a NSFAS funded student in 2020, for the 2021 academic year her funding had not been confirmed.

“The information on NSFAS record is that Ms Manyanya had not met the progression criteria at the time of her passing. She is part of a group of students whose progression status was continuously being queried with the college.  

“The facts of the communication clear NSFAS of any connection to this tragic incident. It is unfortunate that this tragic incident is being used inaccurately and unfairly in an insensitive manner to the family and to defame NSFAS. This misleading, unfortunate and opportunistic approach is viewed in contempt by NSFAS and individuals spreading this inaccurate communication should be ashamed,” said Mncwabe.

The delays in NSFAS funding have caused much outrage across institutions of higher education.

“The facts of the communication clear NSFAS of any connection to this tragic incident. It is unfortunate that this tragic incident is being used inaccurately and unfairly in an insensitive manner to the family and to defame NSFAS. This misleading, unfortunate and opportunistic approach is viewed in contempt by NSFAS and individuals spreading this inaccurate communication should be ashamed,” said Mncwabe.

Mncwabe said the financial aid, together with eThekwini TVET College, shared communication with the Department of Higher Education and Training explaining Manyanya’s funding status.

“The facts of the communication clear NSFAS of any connection to this tragic incident. It is unfortunate that this tragic incident is being used inaccurately and unfairly in an insensitive manner to the family to defame NSFAS,” added Mncwabe.

Manyanya was studying towards a diploma in electrical and infrastructure construction at eThekwini TVET College.

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Archaeologist and biological anthropologist, Keneiloe Molopyane, has been recognised as a trailblazer by the prestigious National Geographic Society.

Molopyane has been announced as part of the National Geographic Society’s 2021 Emerging Explorer cohort.

“It’s been overwhelming. Since I found out, I’ve had little time to sit back and realise what it all means. I think it’s still sinking in,” said Molopyane.

According to the National Geographic Society, the Emerging Explorer cohort includes individuals breaking through in their respective fields with big ideas. These individuals are then nominated by the National Geographic Society to become a part of the global National Geographic Explorer community of changemakers.

Alex Moen, Chief Explorer Engagement Officer at the National Geographic Society said Molopyane was selected as a member of this cohort because she exemplifies what it means to be a National Geographic Explorer.

“Through her work as an archaeologist and biological anthropologist, and her focus on inspiring the next generation, Keneiloe is advancing our understanding of the world and all that’s in it,” said Moen.

What this means for Molopyane is she will have the opportunity to work with National Geographic to pursue new projects, collaborate with other Explorers, amplify her work to National Geographic audiences, and do educational outreach through the Society.

She will also participate in public speaking and media training, and will attend this year’s Explorers Festival virtually in June.

Molopyane joined the Rising Star Cave research team in 2018 as a junior underground astronaut.

She completed her PhD in biological anthropology at Wits in 2020, and then became involved in the UW105 Cave excavations, where she took on a leadership role in the expedition.

Molopyane has since become the first postdoctoral research fellow at the Wits Centre for Exploration of the Deep Human Journey.

The centre is headed up by fellow Wits graduate and National Geographic Explorer at Large, Professor Lee Berger.

Molopyane joins a group of 14 other scientists, educators, and storytellers in the 2021 Emerging Explorer cohort – a group of people whose fields of expertise are as diverse as culinary history and marine biogeochemistry.

“They’re amazing people, phenomenal. I feel proud to represent Africa, and hope to see more Africans receiving the same recognition in the coming years,” said Molopyan.

She added that she has met her cohort via Zoom but hopes for the opportunity to soon be together in the same room with them.

Molopyane’s postdoctoral research will entail deep exploration of the famous Gladysvale Cave system which is located in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

Molopyane will graduate with her PhD at Wits in the July graduations this year. She joins the ranks of more than five other Wits graduates that hold the title of National Geographic Explorer.

“I’ve been telling people for a long time that I am an explorer, but now the title is official,” she said.

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There has been an increase in positive coronavirus cases in the Northern Cape. Zolile Monakali, Northern Cape MEC for Education said since May 79 schools have been closed for disinfection in the province and 18 are still closed following sharp increases of Covid-19 infections in the province.

The schools in the province are seeing high infection rates among learners and teachers.

“We are observing all protocols in the province. There is social distancing. The schools have been disinfected and we all wear masks. The challenge that we are facing is that learners, educators and the support staff come from communities where big events are attended.

“They attend super spreader events and when they come to school, they infect and spread the virus,” he said.

But from the school’s side we are observing all protocols. We trying to control the environment and doing our best,” said Monakali.

The education MEC said his department is working with the department of health and that they are also acting on the advice they have received from professional healthcare workers as far as matters relating to Covid-19 infections at their schools. 

The Northern Cape department of education has recorded a sharp increase in the Covid-19 cases at schools during the past week.

According to Monakali, the department has recorded 264 new positive Covid-19 cases, which included educators, learners and support staff at schools in the last week alone

“These statistics are very concerning as they lead to the sporadic closure and reopening of schools, thus having a negative impact of valuable learning and teaching time,” he said.

Monakali said all schools are implementing and following strict Covid-19 protocols to limit the spread of the Coronavirus in schools

However, he said, school communities also have a role to play in curbing the spread of Covid-19 in our schools.

“Our schools are a microcosm of society and therefore what transpires in our communities will have a direct impact on our schools and the education of our children.

“As the Covid-19 cases continue to increase in the Northern Cape, we appeal to our school communities to adhere to the Covid-19 protocols. The virus spreads through human interaction and therefore requires all of us to act responsibly at all times,” he said.

Northern Cape education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said the department values the lives of educators, learners and support staff at schools and therefore will continue to strengthen the support to all our schools during the pandemic.

Van der Merwe said the education department appeals to all school communities to be extra vigilant and comply with Covid-19 regulations and guidelines at all possible times.

“Limit your movement and contact with other people, avoid large gatherings, wear you mask at all times, sanitize or wash your hands and maintain social distancing.

“By doing this, all of us will contribute to limit the spread of Covid-19 in our schools. We all have the health and safety of learners, educators and support staff at schools at heart,” he said.

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