• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Coronavirus

Educators should assist learners cope with backlog: Metcalfe

6 August 2020, 8:07 AM  |
SABC SABC |  @SABCNews
The Department of Basic Education says despite having trimmed down the curriculum, learners will only manage to finish 70% of their work for the year.

The Department of Basic Education says despite having trimmed down the curriculum, learners will only manage to finish 70% of their work for the year.

Image: GCIS

The Department of Basic Education says despite having trimmed down the curriculum, learners will only manage to finish 70% of their work for the year.

Education expert Professor Mary Metcalfe says educators will have to assist learners to cope with catching up on the backlog of the 2020 academic year, following delays to the calendar due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Department of Basic Education says despite having trimmed down the curriculum, learners will only manage to finish 70% of their work for the year.

The department says the remaining 30% will be incorporated into the 2021-2022 curriculums.

Public schools are currently on a four-week break and are set to resume on August 24 with matric learners having resumed classes on Monday after a one-week break.

Metcalfe says, “I don’t’ think people should be hung up on the 70%, we should be focused on when learners get back to school, how do teachers pick up the reigns, understand where learners are not only in terms of content and skills that they had been exposed to 4 – 5 months ago, but where are they emotionally, what support do they need and how does the class of 2020, through the backlog, catch up.”

Metcalfe also called on educators to prioritise health and safety protocols when learners return to school.

“Having to manage all these new routines – the social distancing, the masks, washing of surfaces and hands – all of these are new and complex routines which, in themselves, are taking time within the school day. Teachers at this stage need to prioritise their own safety and the safety of the children. They need to cope with the psycho-social challenges that learners are experiencing. Teachers will also be providing material for learners to take home and carry on learning. This is necessary but it is more stress,” says Metcalfe.

Prof. Mary Metcalfe speaks on 2020 academic year:


Reasons why parents can choose not to send a learner to school

Parents, caregivers, or designated family members of learners have the option of not sending learners to school during the national lockdown.

The reasons are according to the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 regarding the re-opening of schools and measures to address, prevent, and combat the spread of COVID-19.

President Cyril Ramaphosa last month announced that public schools would take a four-week break as the coronavirus pandemic approached its peak.

A parent, caregiver or designated family member may choose not to send a learner to school for reasons that may include:

  1. The learner has an underlying medical condition 
  2. Anxiety or fear related to COVID-19
  3. Concern for family members that are over the age of 60
  4. Concern for family members with underlying conditions
  5. A preference for the learner receiving learning and teaching instruction through the online or virtual platforms
  6. A learner is self-isolated or quarantined due to being in contact with a person who tested positive or displaying symptoms of COVID-19
  7. The learner is isolated following testing positive for COVID-19
  8. Learners who have already applied for the full or partial exemption from compulsory school attendance for any of the reasons listed above

According to the Act, a parent, caregiver or a designated family member who chooses not to send a learner to school for any reasons contemplated in 1, 2, 3 and 4 must apply through the learners’ school according to Section 4 of the South African Schools Act to the Head of Department (HOD) or to an authorised person.

If a parent chooses to de-register their child from school for home education, it must comply with the legal requirements for home education.

Below is the President’s address in text:

Share article
Tags: Department of Basic EducationMary MetcalfePublic SchoolsCOVID-19
Previous Post

UN urges Zimbabwe to ensure protection of human rights

Next Post

VIDEO: State Capture Inquiry

Related Posts

A tractor cultivates land on a farm

Limpopo land reform beneficiaries seek answers on unpaid compensation

27 May 2022, 8:21 PM
Graphic depicting COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the world

SA records 3 274 new COVID-19 cases

27 May 2022, 7:45 PM

CORONAVIRUS: Your daily update

27 May 2022, 7:39 PM

VIDEO: Annual Thabo Mbeki Lecture delivered by Nigerian scholar Prof Toyin Falola

27 May 2022, 6:30 PM
Volunteers dish up a meal for children.

Organisation SA Harvest delivers millions of meals

27 May 2022, 3:53 PM
A home badly damaged by floods

Premier Zikalala thanks workers who helped in KZN floods

27 May 2022, 3:12 PM
Next Post

VIDEO: State Capture Inquiry

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Caster Semenya offered to show her body to officials to prove she was female
  • Several roads affected due to flooding in parts of KZN
  • Three Heidelberg brothers die after allegedly consuming energy drink given by their father
  • Gunman kills 18 children, 3 adults in Texas elementary school – Officials
  • Tributes pour in for SA actor Jamie Bartlett
  • SA may be home to world’s oldest person
  • Cosatu’s May Day celebrations descended into chaos, proceedings halted
  • Suspect arrested in connection with Hillary Gardee’s murder
  • [WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT] Nigerian student beaten, burned to death over ‘blasphemous’ text messages
  • Meyiwa family breaks silence over Advocate Teffo’s arrest

LATEST

Africa Month
  • Africa Month
  • Lifestyle

Sizzle City Food and Wine Experience Foundation celebrates Africa Month with cultural parade


Transnet logo with a train in the background.
  • Business

National Prosecuting Authority warns of more arrests at Transnet


FILE PHOTO: The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar, Switzerland, November 20, 2012.
  • Business

Glencore closes cash desks in London, Switzerland known to dispense bribe money


Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane addressing a meeting.
  • Politics

Mkhwebane to know her fate after President Ramaphosa finishes studying her letter


The Taal Monument seen in Paarl.
  • Politics

DA, high-profile Afrikaans singers to demand preservation of Afrikaans language on Paarl monument 


Congolese families displaced after fighting broke out in Kibumba queue to receive relief food at the Kunyaruchinya primary school, where they are camping, outside Goma in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo May 27, 2022.
  • Africa

Resurgent east Congo violence displaces 72,000 in one week


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous UN urges Zimbabwe to ensure protection of human rights
Next VIDEO: State Capture Inquiry