Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has confirmed that schools will now reopen on Monday, July 19 and not on July 26 as scheduled on the school calendar.
This announcement comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated during his family meeting on Sunday, June 27, that private and public schools will close on Wednesday, June 30.
Ramaphosa also moved the country to an adjusted lockdown level 4 for the next 14 days as South Africans deal with the third wave of COVID-19 infections as well as with a new highly infectious Delta variant.
Addressing the media on Monday, June 28, Motshekga said her department will make Thursday and Friday available for teachers and staff to close the schools properly.
“Learners in hostels and learners with special education needs waiting for parents to pick them up should report the latest by Friday. There should not be any learners at hostels or learning facilities,” Motshekga said.
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) June 28, 2021
The Minister added that winter school support programmes for grades 11 and 12 will go forth but under strict COVID-19 protocols. Motshekga said the vaccination programme will continue so those teachers who are scheduled to be vaccinated next week, must please do so.
Meanwhile, more than 200 000 teachers have been vaccinated and additional vaccines will be made available by the Health Department.
READ ALSO:
The country moves to adjusted level 4 – all you need to know
Picture: Cape {town} gallery