Western Cape Vaccinates Over 80% of Teachers In Province

As learners have their first day of school for the third term, the Western Cape Education Department reports that 80% of it's school staff has been vaccinated. The basic education sector kicked off their vaccine rollout on 23 June.

Western Cape has vaccinated around 80% of it's teachers and staff within the school sector. This comes as learners head back to schools today, 26 July.

According to the Education MEC in the province, Debbie Schafer, there is a sense of comfort that so many teachers and staff have been vaccinated:

We have had 47 531 education staff altogether who have been vaccinated with the J&J in the Western Cape as part of the sector rollout.

There were also other staff members who were vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine as part of the national rollout which goes according to age.

She said, "We were allocated 55 200 vaccines and of that, we used 84%". This was for both public and private school staff.

Schools are reopening on a rotational timetable with primary schools switching to a full capacity return from 2 August. High schools will continue using the rotational timetable.

We really want to get as many learners back to school as possible but of course, we have to be careful. Parents do still have the option put in place during the pandemic to keep their children at home if they are really concerned.

Principals, school management teams and non-teaching staff returned to school on 22 July to prepare for when learners will return to school.

This change is happening due to the massive loss in teaching time that was seen due to the pandemic and the rotational timetable.