Activist urges government to give Kwazulu-Natal learners three weeks-off from school

Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has urged government to give learners three weeks to stay at home following KwaZulu-Natal torrential floods and destructions.

“Government should dispatch psychologists and engineers in the province of KwaZulu-Natal to make a critical assessment of the state of readiness for the learners and the schools,” said Makaneta.

Makaneta mentioned that some learners may not be emotionally ready since they lost their homes and their loved ones.

“We therefore plead with authorities that learners and teachers should be given three weeks to stay at home and receive counselling whilst professionals are busy with assessments for school readiness,” added Makaneta.

“Friday is too early for the return of all learners” said Makaneta.

Makaneta highlighted that the well-being of the learners should be put first before the academic plan.

Makaneta further said that, some bodies are still missing and today six more bodies have been found in addition of hundreds that has been pronounced dead.

“The department of basic education should develop a strategy to help learners catch up with the curriculum when they return to class,” concluded Makaneta.

Meanwhile, on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the Cabinet made a decision to declare the province a National State of Disaster.

The floods have resulted in the loss of human life and damage to infrastructure.

 The death toll from the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal has since risen to 448.

• Hendrick Makaneta is a qualified teacher and an education activist.