LAT sets record straight

MATHATISI SEBUSI

MASERU – The Lesotho Association of Teachers (LAT) says unions have always maintained that re-opening of schools should only be done when all health protocols, inter alia, provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) have been fully observed and that it remains the responsibility of the government to provide and ensure the observance of all these protocols.

This, the LAT says, would ensure that the safety of learners and teachers is prioritised.

Notwithstanding the foregoing protocols, the LAT Secretary General, Letsatsi Ntsibolane, vehemently averred that government should either procure the PPEs for learners to sit for final examinations for them to open or pronounce the academic year cancelled so that the nation would be in the light of what would be the fate of the 2020 academic year.

Speaking to this publication today, the LAT secretary general pointed out that the content in the Public Eye report gave an impression that unions want schools re-opened at all costs.

He indicated that this would suggest a contradiction to the position unions have always held. Moreover, he said that some of the content on the report was erroneously reported.

He maintained that while there are a number of implications for cancelling the 2020 academic year, nonetheless if doing so would save lives; that would be appreciated by unions.