Schools have been closed since March in a bid to curb the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

Deputy Minister of Basic Education Reginah Mhlaule told MP’s in Parliament's education committee that government plans to reopen schools on May 18.

However, Naptosa President Basil Manuel says Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will only confirm the decision when she briefs the media on Thursday.

"Tomorrow the minister will make an announcement and of course our views remain the same and unchanged, that schools will not be ready to open on the fourth or sixth and will maybe much later in the month probably.'

"There are still a number of issues that need to be sorted. Primary among those is to ensure that not only the teachers and the other workers and the children, but the parents feel comfortable that it is a safe environment for their children."

Manuel says the department will also need to go province to province to assess school readiness.

"We want to see tangible deliverables taking place and we want know what dates those deliveries will be made to schools."

Jacaranda FM