The association's provincial secretary, Tau Tau, tells OFM News that they are in full support of phase 1 of the learners returning to schools across the province since the national coronavirus lockdown which commenced in March.

Tau said this during a presentation about the reopening of schools by the Free State Department of Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, at the Tsosoletso Secondary School in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

He says the association conducted visits to numerous schools in Mangaung to assess the level of preparedness for welcoming back the teachers and learners last week. He says they are happy all the requirements are met. He further says other challenges such as infrastructure and water were also improved by the department.

Meanwhile, Makgoe said parents should stop refusing to send their children back to schools due to anxiety that coronavirus is found at schools. "The SA Schools Act says everyone between 6 and 15 must be at school. If a parent will not send a child to school he/she must apply to the department for home schooling. But the coronavirus does not only spread at schools. Even at malls. Research shows children are at a minimum risk of contracting the virus and fatality is very minimal. The whole world is learning to live with the virus. The anxiety needs to be removed," he said.

OFM News