The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today welcomed the decision to fully reopen all South African schools for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began. This follows the Cabinet announcement that the rotational system, which has been in effect since March 2020, will end with immediate effect.

Primary, secondary and special schools will return to daily attendance. The regulatory provision that learners must maintain one metre of social distancing in schools has also been removed.

Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said the committee is extremely glad that the rotational system is now in the past. “Since the start of the schooling year, the committee has been engaged in oversight visits. We are in the third province now and in every province the education sector made it clear that a complete and total return to schooling was needed and required,” she said.

“It is clear that Government and Cabinet heard the call of the education sector, but also that of parents and the community that our learners will be best served at this point to return fully to school. This will be a great benefit to our poor learners that have been missing out on schooling. Let’s catch up as much as possible now.”

Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba appealed to everyone to continue with other Covid-19 protocols, including wearing masks and sanitising or washing hands regularly.

Source: Government of South Africa