The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says it is ready to allow all learners to return to class full-time, as the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is mulling over the decision to have all primary school pupils back to school full-time.

According to IOL, the WCED said learners were less likely to be hospitalised or die from COVID-19 complications than adults.

The report quoted WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond as saying the return of all learners would be beneficial, because they would get back into a regular routine.

Times Live said on Friday that the department of education was locked in a meeting to discuss the return of pupils to school on a full-time basis.

Raft of changes

“When the president announced local government elections will go ahead, it seems as if he is going to start unlocking things. It will be unfair to limit education when political rallies are allowed,” the report quoted a source within the department as saying.

It remained unclear whether the talks were based only on the return of all primary school pupils or high school pupils as well, the report said.

Meanwhile, government has approved a raft of changes to COVID-19 regulations for schools, eNCA reported on Saturday.

“Both contact and no-contact sports will make a welcome return but still without any spectators for now.

“Physical education classes and extracurricular activities will also be allowed to resume.

“Pupils will be able to partake in inter-school, district, provincial and national sports tournaments.

“The number of people allowed to attend school events has also been increased,” the report said.

Picture: Unsplash

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