Basic Education Department Sets 6 May as Tentative Return Date for Schools

The Basic Education Department has announced a tentative date for the gradual reopening of schools amid the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa.

The Basic Education Department was briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education and the Select Committee on Education on the status of schooling during lockdown on Wednesday.

Department officials say learners in Grade 7 & 12 will return to school on 6 May while teachers will return on the on 4th.

The term for Grade 7 & 12 will run until 26 June and there will be 1 week holiday from 26 June to 3 July.

The other grades will return to schools on the following dates:

Grade 6 & 11 – 20 May

Grade 5 & 10 – 03 June

Grade 4 & 9 – 17 June

Grade 3 & 8 – 01 July

Grade 1 & 2 – 08 July

Grade R – 15 July

Schools will have to follow and implement strict measures such as daily screenings and social distancing.

Where pupils and staff present symptoms, they must be isolated and tested.

Faizel Patel

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

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