JUST IN: Contact sport in schools stopped with immediate effect
Schools are expected to soon make announcements regarding how non-contact sport will continue.
POLOKWANE – The Council of Education Ministers met this morning and have decided to suspend all contact sport in schools with immediate effect.
In a statement released by the Education Department, it is said that non-contact sport training in schools can continue, provided that all social distancing, hygiene and safety measures are observed and that there is no physical contact between participants during training.
“In 2021, after the reopening of schools and consultations with education stakeholders, the DBE gazetted directions allowing non-contact sport, sport-related activities and school-based art and cultural activities to resume without spectators, subject to adherence of safety measures,” the department’s statement reads.
They add that on 12 February 2021, Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, gazetted directions on school sports and extra mural activities, non-contact sport, sport-related activities and school-based art and cultural activities to resume subject to health and safety protocols.
“During the last week of Term 1, school sports activity related Covid-19 outbreaks in Gauteng were reported and have been gradually increasing in Term 2. It is evident that despite following the protocols as guided by the directions on extramural activities and Standard Operating Procedure on the prevention, containment and management of Covid-19 in schools, contact sports events still contribute to the spread of Covid-19,” the statement reads.
As a result of school sports activities related Covid-19 outbreaks in Gauteng and general rise of cases in communities across the country, the Outbreak Response Team (ORT) told the council that the risk was high when engaged in close-contact sports, especially with people who do not live together.
“In this regard, all sporting activities have been suspended with immediate effect until the clusters outbreak is subsequently over with no further cases reported including the preparatory school sport. The department will continue to monitor the situation and a government gazette will be issued with the notice in the coming days,” the department concludes.
