By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Basic Education has confirmed that Grades R to 7 pupils will return to normal school attendance from July 26.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga issued the directives in a Government Gazette on Friday, setting out the issue of school attendance and the matter of the suspension of contact sports at public schools.
In terms of the directions, primary school learners (Grades R to 7) must return to the daily attendance and traditional timetabling model from 26 July 2021.
“This provided that the risk adjusted differentiated strategy is implemented.”
“Based on the risk adjusted differentiated strategy, schools for learners with special education needs (Grades R to 12) must also return to the daily attendance and traditional timetabling model from 26 July 2021,” the department said.
The 2021 academic school calendar shows that the second school term was set to close on July 9 and reopen two weeks later, on July 26.
“A risk adjusted differentiated strategy means an approach to school attendance that is determined by the direction the COVID-19 pandemic is taking in the district municipality and country.
“The Gazette also states that where practicable, a primary school, a school for learners with special education needs that returns to the traditional timetabling model and school hostels must comply with the social distancing, minimum health and safety measures on COVID-19, as contemplated in these directions, the DBE Standard Operating Procedure and the Regulations.
“Teaching and learning may be conducted outside the confines of a classroom provided that all health and safety measures on COVID-19, as contemplated in these directions, the DBE Standard Operating Procedure and the Regulations, are adhered to and the safety of learners is ensured,” said the department.
They said the new directions should be enforced and read together with the temporary suspension of contact sport in schools, which was issued on May 27.
“The directions are an outcome of research and extensive consultation with stakeholders in the basic education sector.”
The amendments re-emphasised that all contact sport, including competitive events and matches, are suspended.
“Non-contact sport training and intra-school matches, non-contact sport-related activities, and all arts and culture intra-school activities, except choirs, may resume without any spectators.”
The amendments stated that co-curricular and enrichment programmes, such as oral history, spelling bees, moot court, speech contests, debates and school clubs, may resume but that competitive interschool events and engagements may only take place on virtual platforms “as travel to other schools and provinces is suspended”.