The Free State Department of Education has expressed concern over the disruption to teaching and learning arising from Mondays shutdown, across the Mangaung Metro in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo.
The Provincial Department says while it respects and recognises the constitutional right of citizens to raise concerns and engage in lawful protest, learners and schools should remain protected spaces.
It says learner attendance at Mangaung township schools stood at 13, with only 5000 learners attending out of 38 000 enrolled learners, while educator attendance remained relatively stable at 69 reporting for duty.
