Smooth return to schools for Grade 11s and 6s
The Department of Basic Education added schools that are ready to receive Grade R learners on Monday can proceed to receive the learners.
THERE were no hitches in north Durban as schools across the province welcomed back Grades 6 and 11 learners to school on Monday.
While Dr Enock Nzama, the HOD for KZN Education, sent a circular to the KZN schools, last week, saying Grade R pupils must stay home today, minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga said schools that meet the health and safety protocols can reopen for their Grade R and pre-Grade R learners.
“The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) noted that provinces may be at different levels of readiness for the return of Grade R learners. Therefore, the CEM agreed that those provinces that are not ready to receive Grade R on Monday (6 July) must provide strategic plans for ensuring the reincorporation of Grade R learners to schools within, but not later than the end of July 2020,” Motshekga said.
Read also: Education department halts return to school for certain Grades
She said provinces that are ready to receive Grade R learners on Monday can proceed to receive the learners.
“What is critically important is that all Grade R and pre-Grade R learners, who have already returned to school, must remain in school. Schools that meet the health, safety and social distancing protocols can reopen for their Grade R and pre-Grade R learners.”
The Department of Basic Education will continue to work with the national associations responsible for learners with special needs to streamline the return of these learners to school.
Related school news: Principals urged to strictly follow health protocols
Speaking on how Covid-19 has affected schools across the country, Motshekga said since the return of the Grade 7 and 12 learners last month, 968 of the 25 762 schools, were closed and reopened.
“Again, since the return of the Grade 7 and 12 learners, 2 740 teachers, of the total number of 440 000 teachers, were infected by the virus. This is equivalent to less than 1 per cent of the entire teacher population in our country. In the same period, 1 260 learners were infected by the virus. This implies that 0.01 per cent of our learners, were infected by the virus,” the Minister said.
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