Franciscan Matric Project resumes teaching
Teachers who are over the age of 60 were not forced to take the risk, but it's their personal choice
St Anthony’s Education Centre welcomed its Franciscan Matric Project learners when the country reopened schools for certain grades on Monday, June 8.
By Tuesday morning, June 9, the school said it had already received more than 150 learners and those learners were issued with protective equipment (two masks each) and oriented on the new Covid-19 regulations. The centre manager, Mrs Webb, said the school was following all the health and safety measures to ensure the safety of learners and staff.
Webb prevented the Advertiser from entering the premises to capture the sanitising and screening processes, saying as part of the guidelines put in place by the Gauteng Department of Education, no visitors are allowed on school premises.
ALSO READ:
Covid-19: Reiger Park Police taking precautions seriously
Prior to this, the Advertiser received a complaint from a source, who asked to remain anonymous, claiming that the centre was flouting some of the rules and thus putting people’s lives at risk. The source complained about overcrowding and returning of staff who are over the age of 60 (they are classified as being at a higher risk o contracting Covid-19). The source also complained about unfair cutting of staff salaries.
Webb admitted that in the Franciscan Matric Project they have staff members who are over 60 and returning to work was the members’ personal choice.
“Teachers who fall in that age category have agreed that they understand the risk and individually signed a letter of agreement,” said Webb.
When it comes to salaries and the number of students per class, Webb said the total number per class varies from time to time as it’s dependent on the total number of learners attending a specific subject. She said the highest number they had so far is 32.
She added that the centre has been able to pay its staff full salaries so far, but what will happen in future is not known.
“We are struggling but we are surviving. We will do whatever it is we can to make sure we pay our teachers and other staff. Our priority is to keep our children as safe as possible and give the children the best education under these difficult circumstances,” said Webb.
It’s still unclear as to when will the ABET section of the centre be ready to resume teaching and learning.
ALSO READ:
Teacher at Drommedaris Primary positive for Covid-19
