OVER 2.8 million pupils around KZN returned to school today (Monday) after nearly five months of uncertainty.
On Sunday, KZN premier Sihle Zikalala said the Department of Education was gearing to resume the academic year and was fully prepared for the re-opening of 6 148 schools.
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‘Except for Grades 12, 11, 7, and 6, all other grades will be returning for the first time since March.
‘All Personal Protection Equipment and other essentials have been procured and delivered to schools.
‘There are only three districts that have reported that they will complete their delivery either today or tomorrow morning.
‘We must indicate that the outstanding delivery is due to cancellations made when certain appointed service providers could not deliver on time.
‘However, we are confident that every learner will return home with two sets of masks,’ said Zikalala yesterday.
With overcrowding a concern, mobile classrooms have been supplied to selected schools to ensure social distancing.
More than 100 mobile classrooms have been procured in the King Cetshwayo district alone.
Despite this, all schools will have to operate at 50 per cent capacity and alternate the attendance of grades.
The attendance of grades will be as follows across all schools:
Monday and Tuesday: Grade R, 1, 6, 10 and 11
Wednesday and Thursday: Grade 2, 5, 8 and 9
Friday: Grade 3, 4, 10 and 11
‘Beyond this week, the schools will then apply their differentiated time-tabling based on their circumstances.
‘We further emphasise the point that the safety of our learners, teachers, and management team is a priority in everything we do and we will not compromise,’ said Zikalala.
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