The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said 728 247 pupils and 12 026 staff members were unable to attend school on Thursday while 48 schools were closed as a result of the ongoing taxi strike.
This makes up 60% of the total learners and 21.5% of staff members in Western Cape schools.
‘While these numbers are still devastating, it is positive to note that attendance has increased from Tuesday (8 August 2023), with 124 012 more learners and 5 699 more staff members attending school today,’ Maynier said.
On Tuesday, the department announced that over 850 000 pupils missed school.
Also read: 71% of learners absent as taxi strike takes a toll on Western Cape schools
Maynier added that the number of schools closed also decreased from 92 on Tuesday to 48 today.
The MEC said he is hopeful that the absenteeism figures will continue to decline.
Meanwhile, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has called for the WCED to close schools in areas most affected by taxi strike action, slating the department for not taking the steps to do so.
‘Sadtu Western Cape is greatly perturbed by the ongoing violent taxi strike in the province where workers are intimidated, and the reluctance of the WCED to take a decisive step to close the schools in the affected areas for the safety of both teachers and learners,’ said Sadtu.
WCED, however, feels that schools ensure a safe space for those that would otherwise been left unattended and without a meal.
‘This is why we are keeping schools open. We want to ensure continued teaching and learning for our children, as far as possible, and today over 124 000 more learners got that opportunity, which would not have been the case if there was a blanket closure of schools,’ said WCED.
‘While there has been no resolution to the taxi strike, education must continue if safe to do so’.
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