GEORGE NEWS - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has instructed schools in the George District to remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday, 6 and 7 May, following the severe weather warning from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) on Monday.
All public ordinary and special needs schools in the George District - Circuit 3 and 8 of the Eden and Central Karoo Education District - are to remain closed. Other areas affected are Circuit 4 (Knysna) and Circuits 5 and 6 (Oudtshoorn).
The WCED released a statement that this decision follows an extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the Saws, and was taken in the interests of learner and teacher safety.
The affected schools have received official notice of the closure from the head of department and have been requested to communicate the closures to the parents. All other schools in the Western Cape will remain open unless closure approval is granted on a case-by-case basis.
The department said its default position is to keep the schools open and only close them in exceptional circumstances; however, the severity of the current weather warnings necessitates this precaution. It said it would continue to monitor and evaluate the situation so that the schools may reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.
All schools are expected to reopen on Friday 8 May. The weather forecast for the remainder of the week will be assessed to determine whether any further individual school closures are required.
The affected schools are:
Circuit 3 schools: Conville Primary School, Diepkloof VGK Primêre Skool, Eden Technical High School, George Voorbereidingskool, Hibernia VGK Primêre Skool, Hoekwil Laerskool, Jonga Street Secondary School, Karatara Laerskool, Klipdrift EK Primêre Skool, Lancewood Primêre Skool, M M Mateza Primary School, Olympia Skool, Outeniqua Primary School, Parkdene Primêre Skool (George), Parkdene Sekondêr, Redlands Primêre Skool, Ruigtevlei Primêre Skool, Sedgefield Laerskool, Sedgefield Primêre Skool, Tabatha Primary School, Thembalethu Secondary School, Thembaletu Primary School, Touwsranten VGK Primêre Skool, Tyholora Primary School, Van Kervel Spesiale Skool, Waboomskraal VGK Primêre Skool and York High School.
Circuit 8 schools: Blanco Laerskool, Carpe Diem Skool, Dellville Park Primary School, Denneoord Laerskool, Dieprivier VGK Primêre Skool, Franken VGK Primêre Skool, Geelhoutboom VGK Primêre Skool, George Sekondêr, George-Suid Laerskool, Heatherlands High School, Heidedal Primêre Skool, Herold Laerskool, Holy Cross Primary School (George), Hoogekraal SSKV Primêre Skool, Imizamo Yethu Secondary School, Kommandantsdrift SSKV Primêre Skool, Kretzenshoop Primêre Skool, Mzoxolo Primary School, New Dawn Park Primêre Skool, Outeniqua Hoërskool, Pacaltsdorp Primêre Skool, Pacaltsdorp Sekondêr, Rosemoor Primêre Skool, St. Mary’s RK Primêre Skool (George), St Paul’s EK Primêre Skool (George) and Van Der Hoven Laerskool.
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