Back to school: Here’s what you need to know about the new rules, dates

The Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has gazetted the amended rules for schools, after academic activity was placed on hold for weeks pending caseload fluctuations associated with COVID-19 pandemic.

It comes as the Department of Basic Education has released the revised calendar for the 2020 school year. This will see schools closing on 15 December 2020, for Grades R to11 while matriculants are set to wrap up their final examinations on the same day.

Back to school: The new calendar

Between 27 July and 31 July 2020, the principal and the school management team would have worked to determine the staffing requirements so as to ensure compliance with social distancing requirements- ahead of pupils returning to school.  They would also have continued with the daily school feeding programme, which was rolled out after the department was taken to court.

“The principal and the school management team must be on duty to make arrangements for the receipt of the learners anticipated in the weeks ahead”, the directive read.

Matrics back in class on Monday 3 August

In week 2, which is between 3 – 7 August 2020, the school management and principal return to the classroom to help in ensuring compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist in the distribution of learning material and the roll-out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners.

On 11 August 2020, Grade 7 learners return to the classroom, during which teachers and school management will be in attendance to help welcome them.

All grades back in school by 31 August 2020

On 24 August 2020, Grades R, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 go back to school. While in high school, Grades 9, 10 and 11 are also resuming academic activity.

In special schools, year 1, 2 and 3 learners at schools of skill will go back to school as well as Grades R, 1, 2, 3 and final year in schools for learners with disabilities.

On 31 August 2020, Grades 5 and 8 pupils return to the classroom.

The @DBE_SA has released the amended school calendar #BackToSchoolSA pic.twitter.com/M0pQiNdTFS

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) August 3, 2020

Students not returning to school

Under the directive, parents could choose not to send their children to school for a number of reasons including:

• Anxiety and fear related to COVID-19, concern for family members that are over the age of 60 or concern for family members with comorbidities
• Preference for the learner receiving learning and teaching instruction through the online or virtual platforms
• An application for home education and deregistration of a learner from the school