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DA slams Ramaphosa for 'bowing to union pressure' to close schools

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DA leader John Steenhuisen has slammed President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to close public schools for a month, saying the president has “bent the knee to all-powerful teachers’ unions”.

Steenhuisen said closing schools would have a devastating effect on children for years to come and would make inequality worse. He said many learners would drop out as a result and possibly never return to school, or will fall behind to the point that they can never catch up.

“Some parts of the country have been experiencing an increase in community infections, which have led to high levels of psychological and emotional stress. This has spilt over into schools as schools are a microcosm of society,” she said. She said it was important to remember that the government’s decision to gradually lift the lockdown was — and still is — predicated on saving lives and livelihoods.

“The basic education system needs to be afforded the opportunity and space to gradually settle in dealing with the new normal of operating under Covid-19, in line with the risk-adjusted differentiated approach in reopening schools.”

 

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