Cosas threatens to shut down all private schools
The student organisation said learners were forced to choose between their lives or an education. Picture: Travis Saylor from Pexels.
The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) vows to shut down all private schools in the country from Monday.
The student organisation said learners were forced to choose between their lives or an education.
Cosas president Douglas Ngobeni, said the lives of learners mattered more than any business arrangement and that private schools are trying to make a profit amid a pandemic.
“The Congress of South African Students will be shutting down private schools in all parts of the country. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that only public schools would close. The virus does not care whether your father is a billionaire.”
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In a media statement on Monday, Cosas said it has already identified a private school and will be taking a “radical approach” in shutting it down.
“We will be locking down the school with our own padlocks and chains. We urge parents and communities to join us. Education is equal and not for sale.”
According to reports, the Educators Union of SA (Eusa) and the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) have questioned the decision to suspend public schools, while private schools remained open.
Both unions viewed the decision as inequality in education and agreed that schools should remain closed until it is safe to reopen.
Moreover, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said the decision to close schools for all grades, except Grades 7 and 12, for four weeks is unjustifiable.
