The Zero Dropout Campaign has called on education officials to ensure that school recovery plans are implemented safely and consistently, particularly in lower quintile schools that do not have access to running water and sanitation.
“We support the decision to complete the 2020 academic year, provided all reasonable measures are taken to protect learners, support staff, teachers and their families,” said Merle Mansfield, programme director of the Zero Dropout Campaign.
“Therefore, the public debate should not be about whether schools should reopen. Instead, we should be talking about how civil society, educators, parents and government can collaborate to ensure classes resume as safely as possible over a sustained period,” Mansfield explained. Since children are expected to return to school in phases, it’s crucial that those who remain at home are able to maintain some connection with school life.
“We urge the department to find ways to bolster learner support programmes for all grades by listening to the experience of teachers during the lockdown, establishing a task team inclusive of civil society to find solutions to the challenges, and by ensuring all educational content is zero-rated.”
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