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THE Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga must now put all her
efforts on a thorough, effective recovery plan to assist pupils in the
Northern Cape (Olifantshoek) because they have lost serious valuable
learning time. This week pupils are returning to school after months of
absence and will require educational and psychological support.

COPE is disappointed that service delivery protests in that area robbed
pupils off their valuable learning time. COPE will always condemn the
disruptions of schools during service delivery protests. But the
government’s repeated failure to manage problems in schools and
communities indicates that the ANC is making less progress in addressing
delivery problems.

COPE calls upon pupils, teachers, and community members to work
together in ensuring that calm returns and teaching and learning resumes
without hindrances. The department has a huge responsibility on
restoring confidence of the South African people to overcome the fears

of a slowly collapsing education system.

However, once the recovery begins, the department needs to start
planning properly for the year ahead in avoiding a repeat of the crisis
in Limpopo, and Northern Cape Provinces.