After a four hour meeting on Thursday, the Basic Education Department announced that it has revised its decision to allow almost 6 million students back to school from next week. This decision was made in light of the rising number of COVID-19 infections in the country. In a statement released, the department said only grades R, 6 and 11 would be permitted back in class following consultations with the Council […]
Displeased principals, teachers, and parents of the surrounding Athlone areas joined hands on Thursday morning against the basic education department's decision to reopen schools amid the ever-spreading covid-19 pandemic in the country. For many of the teachers, they are less concerned about finishing the academic school year but more about saving the lives of the learners and themselves. Principal at Heideveld Primary, Rushdien Desai stated teachers need to stand […]
by Tauhierah Salie The Western Cape Education Department's decision to reopen schools on June 1st has received heavy criticism from teacher unions, with the SA Human Rights Commission threatening legal action. It follows a postponement of a press briefing by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga at the weekend, who had last week pronounced that schools should reopen on June 1st. Speaking on VOC’s Breakfast Beat on Monday morning, Naptosa executive […]
While panic-stricken parents mull over whether to send their children back to school, Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schafer says plans to open schools to learners are progressing well. She has welcomed the decision by the Minister of Basic Education to open schools on 1 June 2020 to Grades 7 and Grades 12. Schools have been closed in South Africa since March, preceding the national lockdown aimed at curbing the […]
Eight Western Cape schools, all under the banner of the United Herzlia Schools have shut their doors over fears of a possible coronavirus breakout in the province. The National Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that the Western Cape now has two new COVID19 cases. This brings the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the province to three. Director of United Herzlia schools in Cape Town, Andries van Renssen, […]
By Tauhierah Salie The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has signed a ground-breaking memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) which will assist Muslim students studying hafith to complete their academic schooling. At a press briefing at the MJC head offices in Athlone on Tuesday, it was revealed that the MOU was at least four years in the making and followed persistent issues relating to Hafith students […]
By Aneeqa Du Plessis Appalled parents shut down Alpine Primary School in Mitchells Plain on Wednesday after 1300 children were expected to share two toilets. Alpine primary has been the target of continuous vandalism incidents. Several complaints were reported to the province’s Safe School Call Centre during the holidays. In the biggest incident, three classrooms were destroyed and the boys’ bathroom gutted, and in another, a shoot-out between security company […]
As the 2020 academic year officially kicks off on Wednesday, the unfortunate circumstance of parents frantically trying to ensure the placement of their children remains a stark reality. Minister of Education Angie Motsheka’s announcement of a 81.3% pass rate for the 2019 matric class last week; was meant to be a celebratory occasion for South Africans. But instead, it revealed the several issued facing our education system. Among the concerns […]
By Tauhierah Salie The Bishop Lavis Action Community (BLAC) will be hosting another protest at Bergville Primary as the 2020 academic year kicks off on Wednesday morning. Last year, the school was disrupted after teachers and parents protested, demanding action against overcrowding, lack of security and psycho-social services at disadvantaged schools. But this time, they are not shutting the school down because their demands, which also included more teachers and […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
