The South Africa Medical Association (SAMA) says in principle it agrees with the call to close schools during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it cautions that this should only be done in communities with a high number of infections.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to meet with unions on Wednesday morning to discuss issues including the closure of schools ahead of the COVID-19 peak in the country.
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga says the department will be giving parents school work every two weeks, to make it easier for them to teach their children at home.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says although there is an increasing number of learners getting infected with COVID-19, schools cannot close forever. He says South Africans have to learn to coexist with the virus.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is concerned that dropout rates will spike in 2020. The Minister says while they have put in a lot of work into curbing the number of children who drop out of school over the years, this year may reverse the gains made.
SABC © 2020
