Progressive Organisations’ Formation (POF)

BRIAN ISAACS

DUE to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were closed on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, by the South African government. The government introduced stage 5 lockdown regulations on March 27, 2020.

Schools were then scheduled to be re-opened for grades 7 and 12 on Monday, June 1, 2020. However, due to pressure from teacher unions and parent bodies, schools re-opened on June 15, 2020, for grades 7 and 12.

In the Western Cape, schools were allowed to open on June 1, 2020. Government then proposed that the other grades return in stages. Confusion reigned in South Africa with private schools, ‘model C’ schools bringing students back earlier.

Some schools in poor communities tried to bring back students a ccording to government regulations. Most of the schools of the p oor struggled to get students back due to protests in their communities and parents saying that schools should only open once the virus curve has flattened.

The government then closed schools on Friday, July 24, 2020. The Grade 12 students returned on Monday, August 3, 2020. The Grade 7 students returned on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. All other students are expected to return by Monday, August 24, 2020.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the return/ non-return of students to school, a meeting of concerned organisations