Back to normality: Schools to return full-time from Monday

The return of traditional daily attendance of pupils in all schools across the country will take effect from Monday, 7 February.

The announcement was made in a statement on the 1st of February, following cabinet approval of changes to the adjusted alert Level 1 Covid-19 regulations.

All schools across the country will return to full time attendance from Monday next week, this comes after Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga met with the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) on Tuesday and agreed that this will be the last week of rotational timetabling.

Last week minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga made recommendations to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) to reduce social distancing measures in classrooms.

“The Department of Basic Education welcomes the decision by Cabinet to allow schools to return to full time learning in all schools”, said department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga.

Mhlanga said the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) met on Tuesday morning to process the decision.

“CEM agreed that schools would return to normal time-tabling as from Monday 7 February 2022”, he said.

Mhlanga said meetings have been scheduled with stakeholders to inform them of the decision, the sector will in the meantime be preparing for the full return of learners.

He also continued saying that the minister will gazette new directions in the coming days to reflect the Cabinet decision and to also provide guidance ahead of the resumption of traditional time-tabling.

The department said the CEM will meet again on Friday the 4th of February.

Based on the trajectory of the pandemic and the levels of vaccination in the country, cabinet therefore decided to make changes to Adjusted Alert Level 1 with immediate effect.

The changes include, those who test positive with no symptoms do not have to isolate.