David Maynier, the Western Cape provincial minister of education, released a statement highlighting the negative impact of the taxi strike on teaching and learning in the Western Cape.
As a result of the strike, 852 259 students, constituting 71% of learners in schools, were unable to attend school on Tuesday, 8 August. The strike has led to the closure of 92 schools due to safety concerns or low attendance, which is a significant increase compared to yesterday.
Also read: Surge in learners absent from school amid taxi strike
The minister expressed concern about the disruption the strike was causing, particularly in light of the ongoing efforts to reverse learning losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The metro districts have been severely affected, with attendance rates ranging from 10% to 20%. Moreover, disruptions to the Learner Transport Scheme in the Cape Winelands and West Coast education districts have contributed to the decline in attendance.
Transport disruption prevented some learners from reaching school, while others were kept at home due to concerns about their safety amid the violence associated with the strike. Fake news circulating on social media has further heightened fears, leading to reduced attendance rates.
The strike has also affected school staff, with 17 725 staff members being absent on Tuesday. Minister Maynier emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity to law enforcement to ensure the safety of learners and staff.
The minister appealed to the public not to spread unverified information on social media, as it hampers law enforcement’s ability to handle the situation and can create fear and chaos.
He urged everyone to act responsibly and refrain from sharing fake news, as it does not serve the best interests of the children and their education.
The statement concluded with a reminder of the significance of preserving teaching and learning time for the sake of the children’s futures.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook