Nzimande: No face-to-face learning during alert level 4

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande says the decision to postpone face-to-face sessions at tertiary institutions, it is in safety of students and lectures amid high rise of Covid-19 cases.

However, the Minister clarified that, activities will continue virtually despite suspension of face-to-face learning.

Nzimande said teaching and examinations must halt for the next two-week period. Learning will shift exclusively to online learning for all students.

He stated that residences will also remain open, as it would not be safe for students to travel back home. “It is necessary for students to retain access to campus and residence-based Wi-Fi for online activities.”

The minister also made it clear that universities will however, need to ensure the hygiene of residences and that, they are in accordance with the regulations aligned by the Health Department.

University activities that would lead to social and/or mass gatherings are strictly prohibited and access to campuses will be highly controlled, and it will be only for essential activities and services.

For TVET institutions, the minister stated the following:

•  Semester 1 and NCV students who are currently in recess shall resume their classes on 12 July on a rotational basis.
• Semester 2 registrations are ongoing and phased-in classes to begin on 01 August 2021 subject to review.
• Staff attendance at colleges and regional offices should be at a maximum of 33% to allow for limited disruption.

Minister Nzimande gave a brief information on NSFAS laptop applications.

He informed that 170 000 laptops were ordered from outside the country, of which 90 060 had arrived.

The balance is said to arrive in mid-July and mid-September 2021.

On health at the higher education institutions, the minister emphasised that basic Covid-19 health protocol should be adhered to.

Institutions are advised to work with Health Department for ensuring residences that are fit to be occupied.

Students, staff and service providers are urged to use Health Check before leaving their homes and residential areas to look after themselves and others as well.

“Our universities are much more than just places of learning,” the Minister said.

“They are also research facilities where various tests and experiments are being conducted and they also benefit the community,” he added.

Some TVET institutions are already being used as vaccination sites for the DBE.