By: Zethu Gweva
The Eastern Cape Department of Education deviated from the prescribed phasing in of grades.
The department only permitted grade seven and matrics to return to school yesterday.
In a statement released by the Eastern Cape Department of Education, MEC Fundile Gade said the instruction was issued stating that grade 3, 6,11 and other years in the special school’s category will only return on July 20.
“We have to pay attention in particular to the safety of our learners and the prioritization of the exit grades among others,” he said.
Gade expounded that the decision to deviate from the national directive was for the safety of learners and teachers and the quality of teaching and learning.
“The attitude of the leadership of both the provincial government and its administration is that we are more managing the infections in our institutions of learning than managing the pedagogy of teaching and learning as our core mandate as a sector,” said Gade.
He said whilst they have come to realise that Covid-19 is not just a matter of the department of health, but requires collective wisdom as the entire government of the Eastern Cape.
“The recent developments of infections of our teachers, non-teaching staff and learners require critical thinking and a detour from those bestowed with a responsibility to lead the populace of this province,” said Gade.