Responding to the DA's questions regarding the department's contingency plans and whether there are teachers who have been appointed across the country to serve as a substitute for teachers falling sick due to the coronavirus, Motshekga said a total of 811 educators were appointed in schools to replace educators due to comorbidities as at July 17. 

She, however, in a written reply to the party's Nomsa Marchesi, says there is no need to replace educators that have become ill due to the virus at this stage, given that a limited number of Grades had returned to schools. She says only in specific cases where there is no other educator qualified in the specialisation or in case of class teaching is the substitute provided. 

Motshekga's response comes as the country awaits clarity on the number of grades set to be phase in on August 24 when schools re-open following a 4-week break announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last month.

Ramaphosa in his last address to the nation announced that schools would take a month-long break in efforts to curb the spread of the virus.  

Motshekga highlights the number of educators who were appointed in schools to replace educators due to comorbidities is 628 in KwaZulu-Natal, 97 in Western Cape, 78 in Northern Cape, and 8 in Mpumalanga.

She adds that in a case where a teacher tests positive for Covid-19 and is unable to continue teaching, it should not take longer than five days for the substitute teacher to resume duties and ensure learning and teaching takes place.

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