Primary and secondary schools across the country were forced to close their doors amid the coronavirus crisis. 

Government is preparing to ease the lockdown from May 1, but it's still unclear exactly how this will affect schools and when pupils will be expected back in class. 

Sadtu general-secretary Mugwena Maluleke says the provision of scanners will prevent the further transmission of the virus. 

“The main reason is that schools are hotbeds of infectious disease because of the number of students and number of teachers. Therefore this is a preventative mechanism that we wanted the department to look at. The reception by the department was very positive. Each and every school will have those particular temperature screenings to avoid risking our learners at schools.”

South Africa, which has been on lockdown since 26 March, will enter into lockdown level 4 on Friday.

This particular level will allow certain economic activity to continue with a limited workforce. 

Maluleke says it is important for level four to be used as a planning stage since most of the academic year has already been lost. 

“We need to ensure that online learning, distance learning and e-learning continues and that parents and teachers try to communicate with each other. Our students should continue to be reading and studying. It is important that learners are in their books at all times.”

Jacaranda FM