Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will give a media briefing on Monday, May 18 to unpack discussions around the reopening of schools.

The Minister was meant to address the country on Thursday to provide details of the final dates and detailed plans for the phased approach to the possible reopening of schools.

However, she will now convene a special meeting of the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) on Monday to consider progress made towards the reopening of schools.

“We agreed in our meeting on Monday that one week is needed to finalise outstanding issues. So on Monday (May 18) we will reconvene to consider progress made and then report to the public on the state of readiness. A lot of work has happened and we are happy with the progress reported in the last meeting but we need confirmation of deliveries that provinces were waiting for,” said Motshekga.

Provinces have reported that they were at various stages of readiness and they requested more time as they waited for deliveries of personal protection equipment (PPE) from the supplier.

The delays in delivery were owing to challenges with the supplier of PPE which resulted in the cancellation of contracts.

Various provinces had to find new suppliers to deliver the material this week.

“In the meeting on Monday we will receive a full report which we can then share with the public. We will also use the meeting to table President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address which is also important for our planning purposes,” Motshekga added.

Department of Basic Education director-general Mathanzima Mweli said that the implementation of the basic education sector risk-based differentiated approach in reopening schools would be assisted by the President’s address.

Mweli explained that the basic education sector plan was based on risk assessment and mitigation as well as monitoring and evaluation, saving lives and saving the academic year.

“The Minister will address a media briefing after receiving full reports from all provinces on the readiness to open schools. We appeal for patience as we work to find the best way forward under the circumstances,” he said.