Department of Education Extranet

Reopening of 19 school in the Pixley Ka Seme District

Schools in the Pixley Ka Seme District opens

The Northern Cape Department of Education has put in place measures and systems for the reopening of 19 schools, situated within the Umsobomvu and Renosterberg which was declared a hotspot according their Covid-19 statistics in these areas and could not open on the 08th June 2020.

Today, Executive Members of the Northern Cape Provincial Government visited these schools to assess and monitor the reopening of these schools. The decision to reopen these schools emanates from a joint meeting between the MEC's of Education and Health which was held last week in Colesberg. The Department of Education ensured that all 19 schools were disinfected again, orientation and training were conducted with educators and non-teaching staff, food handlers as well as psycho-social support which will be provide over the next two days.

We must however indicate that 4 schools situated in Noupoort could still not open today due to the strong odour of chemicals which may cause harm. This is as a result of the disinfection which was necessary. We are very cautious of the health and safety of our educators and learners and therefore took the decision to reopen these schools on Monday, 22 June 2020. 

In overall, we are satisfied with the current situation in all schools in Northern Cape with no infections at this stage. We trust that our system and measures to curb the spread or the detection of possible COVID-19 cases will assist the Department of Health in the fight against the Coronavirus. 

Our attention now shifts to the the Tsantsabane Municipality which is now the epicenter for the COVID-19 infections in the Province. We will be engaging the Department of Health to discuss these matters and pave the way forward. 

End .