THE VOICE OF EDUCATORS CURRICULUM COVERAGE AND VACCINATIONS
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MEDIA STATEMENT
RELEASED ON 20 APRIL 2021
EMBARGO: NONE
THE VOICE OF EDUCATORS
CURRICULUM COVERAGE AND VACCINATIONS
During the past two weeks the SAOU conducted opinion polls among its members and received
interesting responses in regard to the following two topics:
1. The ability of schools to cover the curriculum and if learners exhibit any backlogs.
2. The view of members in regard to Covid-19 vaccinations and the status of educators as a high-
risk group.
CURRICULUM COVERAGE BY SCHOOLS
IS THERE REASON FOR CONCERN?
The view of members who primarily render service at public schools in connection with the ability
of schools to cover the curriculum and the possible backlogs exhibited by learners were obtained
by means of a survey. The responses undoubtedly show that the restrictions placed on schools as
a result of Covid-19 with reference to the inability of schools to follow a traditional time table, has
compromised the ability of schools to satisfactorily cover the curriculum. That is why the SAOU
requested the Minister on 9 March 2021 already to allow schools to return to a traditional time
table and that the DBE directions must be amended accordingly.
On 15 April 2021 the Minister was once again requested to allow schools to revert to a normal
time table based on the following:
• In the light of empirical and scientific research conducted both in South Africa and abroad,
there is no evidence that infections in schools are caused by interactions between learners;
• The relaxation which permits that all school sport and other extra-curricular activities may
return to normality emphasises the claim that learner to learner infections are for all practical
purposes non-existent; and
• Schools find it increasingly difficult to maintain academic standards and to comply with
curriculum delivery requirements in the absence of a normal school time table.
The SAOU garnered the responses of 797 educators, i.e:
1. Schools where respondents render service:
a. Primary schools: 66%
b. Secondary schools: 24%
c. Other: 10%
2. Geographical distribution of schools:
a. Urban: 39%
b. Town: 50%
c. Rural: 11%
3. 2020: Was the school able to cover the complete CAPS curriculum as prescribed during 2020
when compared to previous years?
a. Yes: 34%
b. No: 66%
4. 2021: Was the school able to cover the complete CAPS curriculum as prescribed in the past
during the first term of 2021?
a. Yes: 43%
b. No: 57%
5. 2021: Trimmed curriculum: Was the school able to able to cover the trimmed curriculum
(Annual Teaching Plans and Programme of Assessment) as prescribed for the period 2020 to
2024 during the first term?
a. Yes: 62%
b. No: 38%
6. Do learners exhibit any academic backlogs if 2021 is compared to “normal school years?
a. Yes: 85%
b. No: 15%
7. Indicate current backlogs in % –
a. 1% - 10%: 10%
b. 11% - 20%: 16%
c. 21% - 30%: 23%
d. 31% - 40%: 16%
e. 41% - 50%: 18%
f. 51% - 60%: 8%
g. 61% - 70%: 5%
h. 71% - 80%: 2%
i. 81% - 90%: 0%
j. +91%: 0%
8. In which particular areas are the backlogs?
a. Languages: 54%
b. Mathematics: 46%
9. If learners currently exhibit backlogs in LANGUAGES, indicate in which skills the backlogs can
be identified.
a. Read: 34%
b. Write: 34%
c. Speak: 14%
d. Listen: 18%
10. If learners currently exhibit backlogs in MATHEMATICS/NUMERACY SKILLS, indicate in which
skills the backlogs can be identified.
a. Mental/basic arithmetic: 23%
b. Multiplication tables: 19%
c. Mathematic comprehension: 29%
d. Basic calculations: 29%
211. In which phase(s) can the largest backlogs currently be identified?
a. ECD (Gr 00 – 0): 2%
b. Foundation (Gr 1 – 3): 38%
c. Intermediary (Gr 4 – 6): 31%
d. Senior (Gr 7 - 9): 20%
e. FET (Gr 10 – 12): 9%
12. In which grade(s) can the largest backlogs currently be identified?
a. Gr 00: 0%
b. Gr 0: 2%
c. Gr 1: 10%
d. Gr 2: 15%
e. Gr 3: 12%
f. Gr 4: 13%
g. Gr 5: 8%
h. Gr 6: 8%
i. Gr 7: 7%
j. Gr 8: 6%
k. Gr 9: 6%
l. Gr 10: 6%
m. Gr 11: 4%
n. Gr 12: 3%
In light of the aforementioned, it is evident that the Minister must urgently consider permission
for schools to revert to the traditional school time table. The further loss of teaching time cannot
be afforded.
COVID-19 VACCINATION OF EDUCATORS
The vaccination of persons, including certain classes of employees, is a topic that evokes serious
debate. The SAOU believes that educators are a high-risk group. Educators are exposed to several
households daily, with the accompanying risk of infection. The opinion of more than 3400
educators are as follows on this topic:
1. Must educators be regarded as a high-risk group?
a. Yes: 87%
b. No: 13%
2. Are members comfortable with the proposal that persons older than 60 years and those with
comorbidities must receive preferential attention?
a. Yes: 83%
b. No: 17%
3. Must vaccination be voluntary or compulsory?
a. Voluntary: 72%
b. Compulsory: 28%
4. Where must vaccinations be administered?
a. Public hospital: 4%
b. Local clinic: 5%
c. Private hospital/clinic: 32%
d. Private medical practitioner: 59%
5. Who must pay for the vaccination of educators?
a. Medical aid: 40%
3b. State: 57%
c. Own cost: 3%
6. Must educators have a choice of the type vaccine, eg. AstraZeneca, Johnson&Johnson, etc?
a. Yes: 97%
b. No: 3%
Enquiries: Chris Klopper – 083 708 7733
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