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2020-04-30
Newsletter 283 - DBE "DRAFT" PLAN - COVID 19 - Reopening Schools...

A FEW INITIAL COMMENTS

This plan is a huge undertaking
The portfolio committee is not confifent that DBE can pull it off
Neither does the public think so - very little confidence
Reopening dates during preparations by the School Management Team, teachers and then learners needs more time - I will suggest two week before we reopen schools to learners incrementally
Under "normal" conditions our school systems are stretched to the limit - in most cases failing us...for covid 19 it is ill prepared
- Training of staff?
- Appointing new staff?
- Outfitting schools with safety equipment?
- Bringing water supplies?
Competing with hospitals for safety equipment...
Compliance with strict lockdown rules in schools seems near impossible
Academic support from District Offices have during "normal" failed us...for Covid 19 they are ill prepared
Unions have under "normal" failed their member...for Covid 19 they are ill prepared
The "normal" academic year 2020 has been AND will continue to be gravely wounded...we can always try to resuscitate thereby keeping hope alive..."but the body is dying!"
- saying otherwise is "lying"

"Let's at least then keep hope alive"

SOME INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

•Taiwanclosedschoolsonlyfortwoweeks,andresumedafterthat.Introducedstrictsocialdistancingmeasures.Temperaturescreeninginthemorning,compulsoryfacemasksandregularhandwashingandplasticdividersondesks.

•Chinaclosedallschoolsbetween20Januaryand6February2020.Returneddifferentgradesinphaseswithgrades9and12first.Compulsoryclothmasksandtemperaturescreening.Handsanitizersavailable.

•DenmarkopenedECDcentresandprimaryschoolstoGrade5.Nofacemaskrequirement.Butseparatedesksto1m.Regularhandwashingandhandsanitizersavailable.Cordonofftheplaygroundtolimitinteraction.Andlimitplaygroups.Staggerbreaktimes.Verylimiteduptakethoughasmostparentsrefusetosendchildrentoschool.Onlyintoitssecondweekthough.

•Singaporedidnotcloseschools.Havehadarecentspikeinnewinfections.Announcedlastweekthatallschoolsanduniversitiestobeclosedfrom20April.Someschoolsand

Size of the Schooling System:

Learners: 12 408 755

Educators:407 001

Schools: 23 076

LEARNER / TEACHERS / SCHOOLS

Public	12 408 755	407 001	23 076
Independen	632 443	37 856	1 922
Total	13 041 198	444 857	24 998

SOCIAL DISTANCING IMPLICATIONS

Infrastructure and Furniture

•Sanitizeclassroompriortostartofschoolday

•Sanitizehandsonenteringofclassroom

•Limitmovementoflearnersbetweenclasses

•Noclusteringofdesksinclassrooms

Transport

•WorkwithDoTtoensurethatbusesaresanitizedpriortostartoftrip

•Sanitizehandsonenteringofbus

•Managedistancebetweenlearnersinbus

•Compulsorywearingofmasksthroughouttheschoolday,startingbeforeboardingtransport

REMEDIAL MEASURES

1.Provincesidentifiedschoolswithcriticalwatersupplychallenges.

2.DepartmentofWater&Sanitation(DWS)initiatedanEmergencyWaterSupplyprogramme:

a)Thatinstallswatertanksatcriticalsupplypoints

b)Thendeliverportablewaterbywatertruckstothesetanks

3.DBEwillparticipateinthisinitiativetogetwatertanksinstalledattheidentifiedschoolsandtogetpotablewaterdeliveredtothesetanks.

4.FollowingthelatestliaisonwithProvinces,therevisedfigureisaround3500schoolswithcriticalwatersupplychallenges.

BASIC SANITATION AND HYGIENE PACKAGE

•Abasicandessentialhygieneandsanitationpackagehasbeendeveloped,andprovincesareprocuringitems.Theseincludecleaninganddisinfectionmaterials,PPE,sanitizers,handwashingsoap,gloves,clothmasks&thermometers.

•TheDBEhasdevelopedGuidelinesforschoolsonmaintaininghygieneduringtheCOVID-19pandemictoproviderecommendationsonthepropercleaninganduseofPersonalProtectiveEquipment(PPE)basedonriskexposureincluding:

–Basicprinciplesofinfectionpreventionandcontrol;

–Riskreductionmethodsforschools,classrooms,toilets/bathrooms,offices,andfoodpreparationarears;

–Dailydutiesofcleaners;and

–HowtousePersonalProtectiveEquipment(PPE).

SCREENING, TESTING & TRACING

•Screeningoflearnersandeducatorswillbedoneatre-openingofschoolsstartingwithGrades7and12(temperaturecheck).

•Learnersorstaffmembersthatpresentwithraisedtemperaturewillthenbeconsideredforisolationandtesting.

STANDARD OPERATION PROCEDURES

TheStandardOperatingProcedures(SOPs)fortheContainmentandManagementofCOVID-19forChildcareFacilities,SchoolsandSchoolCommunities(consultedwithDOHandprovinces)provideguidelinesforalladministratorsonthestepstobeundertakeninordertopreventthespreadandmanagecasesofCOVID-19including:

•GuidanceforchildcarefacilitiesandschoolsonpreventingtheofspreadofCOVID-19;

•RoleofchildcarefacilitiesandschoolsinrespondingtoCOVID-19;

•ManagementofCOVID-19CasesinaChildcarefacilityorSchool;

•GuidelinesforHeadsofDepartmentsandSupervisorsonCOVID-19:Procedureregardingemployees;

•ManagementandMonitoringofabsenteeism;

•LearnerTransportmeasures;

•Closureofaunit/component/office/departmentifanemployeetestedpositiveforCOVID-19;and

•Howtocleaneducationalestablishmentswheretherewerelearners,stafforotherswithsuspectedorconfirmedcasesofCOVID-19.

ORIENTATION AND TRAINING

•Thepurposeoftheorientationandtrainingprogrammeistoenablelearners,educatorsandnon-teachingstafftoadjusttoandbecomefamiliarwiththespecialarrangementsatschoolsfollowingtheoutbreakofthecoronavirusinSouthAfrica.

•Theorientationprogrammeprovidesguidelinesforinteractionwithlearners,parents,educatorsandnon-teachingstaffintheschoolcommunity.

•Alllearners,educatorsandsupportstaffwillreceiveorientationandtrainingatthestartoftheschoolreopeningcommencingwithGrade7and12.

•Theorientationandtrainingprogramme/packagewillcomprise:

–atrainingmanual

–Videoclipsandaninformationbookletarethekeyresourcestodelivertheorientationprogramme

–Postersandappropriatesignagetodirectteachers,learnersandnon-teachingstaffonwhattodo.

•Theorientationprogrammewillbelinkedtoacommunicationstrategyandsharedthrough:

–TelevisionandRadioBroadcasts

–WhatsAppandothersocialmediaplatforms

–WebsitesofDBE,PEDsandPartners

DRAFT AMENDED SCHOOL CALENDAR

•Theoriginalschoolcalendaryearstartedon15January2020andwouldhaveendedon4December2020.Theamendedschoolcalendarwillendon9December2020.

•TheSchoolCalendarfor2020willbeadjustedtohaveschoolsopenon4May2020forteachersand6Mayforlearners.Thegradeswillbephased-instartingwithGrades7and12.ThelostschooldayswillberecoveredbyshorteningtheJuneholidaysto5daysandtheSeptemberholidaystoalongweekendinordertomakeupthesedays.The4thtermwillalsobelengthenedtocloseon9December2020forlearnersand11December2020forteachers.

NON NEGOTIABLES (PRE-CONDITIONS) FOR THE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS

1.COVID-19essentials(BasicSanitation&HygienePackage).

2.Water&Sanitation(Mobilefacilitiestoreplacepitlatrines).

3.Cleaners(EPWP).

4.Screeners(EPWP).

5.Additionalteachingpoststodealwithovercrowding(Noclassshouldhavemorethan40learners).

6.Additionalsubstitutepoststoreplacestaffduetolongillness.

7.Provisionofmobileclassroomstodealwithovercrowdingastemporarymeasure.

8.IncubationCampsforprogressedandweakerlearners(Grade12).

RULES FOR OPERATION

•OfficesandInstitutionsareencouragedtoadoptawork-from-homestrategywherepossible,andallstaffwhocanworkremotelymustbeallowedtodoso.

•Workersabovetheageof60,aswellasworkerswithcomorbiditiesidentifiedbytheDepartmentofHealthshouldbeofferedawork-from-homeoptionorallowedtoremainonleavewithfullpay.

•Thereshouldbeworkplaceprotocolsinplacethatwouldincludediseasesurveillanceandpreventionofthespreadofinfection.

•AllofficesandinstitutionsmustscreenemployeesandlearnersonadailybasisforsymptomsofCOVID-19,includingasymptomcheckaswellastemperatureassessment.

•Alllearnersandemployeesmustuseaclothmaskespeciallywheresocialdistancingisnotpossible.

•Officesandinstitutionsmusthavesanitizersavailableorhandwashingfacilitieswithsoap.

•Stringentsocialdistancingmeasuresshouldbeimplementedintheofficesandinstitutions.

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1. Collection We collect certain information: when you contact us on our website; from your web browser; from cookies we may send to your computer and from web beacons on our website to track how you use our website and to try and give you a personalised experience; and optional information, that you provide when you upload or download content from our website.
2. Use We may use your information: to send you send administrative messages and email updates to you regarding the website; for marketing purposes; targeted content in certain, specified instances.
3. Disclosure We might disclose your information in the specific circumstances mentioned in this policy.
4. Security Our hosting company will host your website in a secure server environment.
5. Your choices You can turn off cookies in your browser; or You can opt-out of marketing communications with us.
6. Contact us You can contact us with privacy related questions at admin@purpletod.co.za address
7. Audience This policy applies to all visitors to our website (`you` and `your`).
8. Purpose of this policy We respect your privacy and take the protection of personal information very seriously. The purpose of this policy is to describe the way we collect, store, use, and protect information that can be associated with a specific natural or juristic person and can be used to identify that person (`personal information`). Personal information:
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9. Acceptance of terms By using this website you are deemed to have read, understood, accepted, and agreed to be bound by these terms.
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10.1 On registration. Once you contact us on our website, you will no longer be anonymous to us as you will provide us with personal information.
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