Schools latest: Learners will now return to class ‘one week earlier’

Learners across South Africa will be told to stay at home from Wednesday, following last night’s lockdown address. The surge of COVID-19 cases within our borders has put the Department of Basic Education in a very difficult position, and in a bid to keep the school year afloat, the scheduled return to class has been brought forward.

When will learners return to school in South Africa?

Minister Angie Motshekga gave a briefing on Monday morning. She confirmed that all schools must close for contact learning this week, and gave teachers a full week to prepare for yet another disruption to the academic calendar. The senior ANC figure also outlined her plans to bring students back to class a week earlier than anticipated.

• – Wednesday 30 June: This is the last day schools are allowed to open for contact teaching.
• – Friday 2 July: Teachers must vacate schools on this day, boarding school children must be collected.
• – Monday 19 July: The NEW date that children will be asked to return to school.
• – Monday 26 July: The OLD date for a return to class, which has now been made redundant.

Winter holidays ‘won’t be extended’ for pupils

Furthermore, matric-level students can still attend ‘winter schools’, but these will be subject to extremely strict health protocols. No residential camps will be allowed, and as far as Motshekga is concerned, it’s full steam ahead to 19 July.

“Wednesday 30 June is the last teaching day – Thursday, Friday will be used to finalise admin. Children from boarding schools must be collected by 12:30 on 2 July. Winter school for grades 11 and 12 can continue under strict watch, but residential camps are not permitted. We urge learners to continue following the protocols during the school holidays.”

“The July winter vacation will not be extended, either. Instead of going back on 26 July, pupils are now to return a week earlier on 19 July. The Department will stick to this new reopening date – unless there are worrying trends that present closer to the time. The decision will be revised if the need arises.”

Minister Angie Motshekga: To matriculants, we have what we call the WOZA Matric campaign. We urge parents that children should continue to learn during this period, using the available resources.

— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) June 28, 2021