Cosas comes out in support of Monday’s return to school
The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) says it’s happy for schools to reopen on Monday after a Covid-enforced break in August.
Schools closed their doors last month in anticipation of the Covid-19 peak.
Grades 7 and 12 have since returned to the classroom while the remaining grades are expected back on Monday.
Cosas spokesperson Zithulele Ndlela says the organisation supports the resumption of academic activities.
“Our stance as an organisation in this period of Covid-19 is guided by scientific evidence at our disposal.
“Understanding and analysing the stats currently we are facing, we believe that it’s proper now and to try mend in education for our kids because we’re also concerned about the medical issues of our learners, particularly matriculants and other grades who have been at home for more than three months, psychologically its affecting our learners. ”
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The student organisation says the use of English and Afrikaans as the primary medium of instruction for learning promotes inequality. Spokesperson Zithulele Ndlela says the organisation wants the department to commit to transformation. "The letter (to the department) addresses mostly issues that we've been complaining about.
The student organisation has previously been opposed to learning during the national lockdown.
“We believe let’s give it a try and currently scientific evidence for us gives us a green light to try and mend other grades back to school,” Ndlela adds.
But he warns they will keep an eye on the Covid-19 trends.
“If there is another peak after other grades have gone back to school and there’s a different scientific evidence at our disposal, we are going to take contradicting decision.”
