schools reopening 2021 south africa

Schools were due to open on January 27, 2021, but the holidays were extended by another two weeks. At this point there were 37.58 cases per million people, nearly four times more than any other country reopening during … It is going to be a huge task, but one that we will need to ensure it is managed and coordinated smoothly.”. They will need to postpone their reopening to a later date. Now that Cabinet has taken a decision, we will once again go back to our stakeholders for consultation on the details of the opening of schools for 2021 school year, amid the pandemic. Re-opening of schools. This is despite the announcement by the Department of Basic Education that schools should delay reopening by two weeks. The coronavirus has turned our lives upside down; and decision-making for a sector as large as basic education, has become a difficult exercise. Some of our markers have passed away; while others withdrew from marking, due to fear and anxiety; but also because for some of them, their own family members have tested positive. The basic education sector, has also felt the impact of COVID-19 pandemic during the marking of the 2020 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination scripts. The priority remains saving lives. CEM took this difficult decision, having considered all factors as backed up by research and statistics, regarding the current state of the health system. We convey our condolences to all families who have lost their loved ones due to COVID-19. Lockdown level 3 won’t affect reopening of schools … Schools are expected to open on time and operate under the usual Covid-19 protocols, said Department of Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga. We revised the 2021 school calendar; and moved the dates from 13 January to 25 January 2021 for teachers; and the 27 January 2021 for learners. This is done to provide relief to the health system which is already struggling to cope with the current demands. We need to ensure that in all that we do, we put health and safety as our apex priority. Schools will use the time to finalise outstanding matters, regarding admissions, especially the unplaced learners in certain cases. The South African government is facing criticism over its plans to reopen schools. Normally at this time of the year, schools are reopened; and work resumes with various sectors welcoming their staff. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. You will recall that the original pre-COVID-19 school calendar had scheduled schools to return on 13 January 2021. All Rights Reserved. In some instances, COVID-19 has wiped out entirely families. “We will need to carry over some of the curriculum work into 2021 and we have done our best to accommodate the interests of everybody. On Monday, 11 January 2021, President Ramaphosa addressed the nation, and said that there was understandable concern about whether it was advisable to reopen schools in the midst of a second wave of infections. Comments section policy: Any attacks on BusinessTech, its journalists, or other readers will result in a ban. “First, let me confirm that schools will reopen on 25 January 2021; second, the school calendar will be gazetted tomorrow, Friday, 2 October, after which it will be publicly available.” Thank you for attending! The Herald (Harare) By Mukudzei Chingwere. In a media briefing on Thursday, Motshekga said that schools will reopen later than planned in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with teachers set to return on 25 January and pupils set to return on 27 January. Basic education minister Angie Motshekga has published the updated 2021 calendar for South African public schools. South African Education News; Coronavirus Psycho-Social Support; ISASA memos on Covid-19; ISASA Media and Interviews; Resources Collected by ISASA. The President said the matter of education was being dealt with by the National Coronavirus Command Council. Kelebogile Ngwenya, 37, is both excited her son Monde is starting school and worried for his safety. School Management Teams (SMTs) shall report for duty on Monday, 25 January 2021; Teachers shall follow on Monday, 01 February 2021; and. 1 March 2021. “More than 1 million (1,058,699) candidates, will sit for the examinations; and we certainly have never had to manage a number that large before. It has left massive devastation in its wake, and for many people, their circumstances have changed for the worse forever. The Department of Basic Education published … The writing of the 2020 NSC examination, will commence on 5 November 2020, and conclude on the 15 December 2020. Let me take this opportunity to thank the Minister, MECs, HoDs of PEDs, our social partners and stakeholders, as well as all colleagues in the sector for the work done thus far. ... Reopening of Schools 2021. Breaking: Schools to reopen for learners on 15 February 2021 Following a surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths, the DBE has resolved to postpone the reopening of SA schools by two weeks. South Africa has the highest prevalence of COVID-19 in Africa with a cumulative total of more than 1.3 million confirmed cases, including 36,851 deaths. These families include the family of the Superintendent-General of the Eastern Cape Education Department and all other families of those involved in the sector. The new dates for the reopening of private schools will vary depending on the calendar that they follow,” the Deputy Minister said. South African public schools were scheduled to reopen on January 27 while most private schools had already kick-started their 2021 academic year. Staff Writer 25 January 2021 The Department of Basic Education has confirmed the updated 2021 return dates for both public and private schools in South Africa. We will have a series of meetings with provinces next week, to check on the very latest, regarding the state of readiness; taking into account the Cabinet decision from yesterday’s meeting. Normally at this time of the year, schools are reopened; and work resumes with various sectors welcoming their staff. We are seeing more deaths to the extent that almost everybody knows somebody who has been affected by it. Due to the coronavirus last year, we were forced to revise the school calendar for 2020, which automatically affected the 2021 school calendar. In the majority of cases, the educators indicated they had attended funerals or ceremonies, attended by big groups of people; resulting in gatherings that were not monitored for compliance with health protocols, which includes the wearing of masks, social distancing, and regular sanitising of hands. May the dear souls of the departed, rest in eternal peace. While South Africa closed its schools in March, along with most of the world, it started reopening them in early June when its COVID-19 cases were rising fast. Between Tuesday and Wednesday (12 and 13 January 2021), we consulted the Council of Education Ministers (CEM), the Heads of Education Departments Committee (HEDCOM), the national school governing body associations, teacher unions, learner formations, principal associations, as well as the national associations representing independent schools and learners with special education needs. For public schools and private schools, which follow the same calendar, changes are as follows: School Management Teams (SMTs) shall report for duty on Monday, 25 January 2021; Below is the updated calendar as gazetted on Friday (2 October): The later start to the year is partly due to the later matric examinations which were rescheduled to accommodate the disruptions caused by the pandemic, said Motshekga. Copyright 2021 Government of South Africa. This includes private schools that have reopened already. JOHANNESBURG - Teachers have told Eyewitness News of their fear and anxiety around returning to the classroom. It was the first day back in schools across South Africa after the continent's hardest-hit country was forced to delay their reopening due to the emergence of a more virulent strain of the virus. Read: South African schools and universites to open later in 2021. On behalf of Minister Motshekga, who is still on sick leave and recovering well at home, we present this statement. Basic education deputy minister, Dr. Makgabo Mhaule, announced that the reopening of both public and private schools has been postponed by at least two weeks. Basic education minister Angie Motshekga has published the updated 2021 calendar for South African public schools. Call to delay reopening of schools By Vincent Cruywagen • 7 January 2021 The rising number of deaths among teachers has added to concerns about the reopening of schools in 2021. The new dates for the reopening of private schools will vary depending on the calendar that they follow. What is required now, is absolute vigilance, alertness; and most of all, strict adherence to the health, safety, and social distancing measures that have been put in place. Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule: Basic Education reopening of schools for academic year 2021 15 Jan 2021 Statement delivered by the Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule, MP at the media briefing on the Basic Education sector plans for the opening of schools for academic year 2021 Good morning ladies and gentlemen. The Department of Basic Education has released the new school calendar for the 2021 academic year, with schools expected to reopen on 25 January 2021. Will get the Covid vaccine as soon as you are able. DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA ... Schools reopening delayed . But our priority, is the learner.”. We are living under difficult circumstances that require commitment, dedication, sacrifice, and selflessness. “The examination timetable for the combined June and November examination had to be amended; so that this examination commences in November, instead of October 2020, as was initially planned.”. Schools are due to open for the new academic year on Monday, 25 January, for teachers, while learners will return on Wednesday, 27 January. Some parents say the reopening of school is actually a good thing for a lot of children who have been away. That for the government schools which breaks the year into four terms, and that for the private schools which breaks the year into three or four terms. South Africa has two different school calendars. Basic education minister Angie Motshekga has published the updated 2021 calendar for South African public schools. Basic education deputy minister, Dr. Makgabo Mhaule, announced that the reopening of both public and private schools has been postponed by at least two weeks. Motshekga said that the late start of the examination is intended to allow as much time as possible to cover critical curriculum content, and to ensure that all examination processes are appropriately managed. Learners at public schools have not been to school since December last year. ... Schools were expected to reopen on 27 January, but the 2021 academic year would now begin on 15 February. Motshekga said that schools will reopen later than planned in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with teachers set to return on … Here is the new 2021 school calendar for South Africa, South African schools and universites to open later in 2021, Ramaphosa expected to announce Easter lockdown: report, This popular Golden Visa programme is changing – here’s what South Africans should know, ‘Work from anywhere’ causing double tax headache for South Africans, Best company to build a smartphone app for your business, Standard Bank’s Instant Money partners with PEP to make cash transactions convenient and accessible, Openserve continues to transform broadband access in South Africa by offering even more value to the customer, Protect your business with OUTsurance – Get a quote today, Here are the 12 best online MBA courses – and salary expectations, A vaccine passport risks leaving countries like South Africa behind, Discovery getting ready for ‘mass vaccination’ of members – here’s how it will work, Motorists and businesses need to start preparing for South Africa’s new driving laws: experts, How much South Africans owe on their credit cards right now, House prices set to climb in South Africa after record months, Two of South Africa's biggest highways are getting R28.4 billion upgrades. National State of Disaster. South African Department of Education academic school calendar with school terms 2021,school holidays 2021, public holidays 2021, including school vacations, long weekends 2021 and high/low seasons.Free online calendar for January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2021. Given the pressure experienced by the health system in the past few weeks, occasioned by increased COVID - 19 infections which has led to the second wave, the Council of Education Ministers in conjunction with the National Coronavirus Command Council and Cabinet, has taken the decision to delay the reopening of both public and private schools with two weeks. As our President correctly mentioned on Monday, funerals remain our biggest albatross in terms of the spread of the virus. “We are fully aware that the country needs the school calendar for effective planning purposes; and we have worked hard to ensure it is done properly; taking into account the disruptions that have occurred in 2020,” said Motshekga. Lastly, learners return on Monday, 15 February 2021. Using StatsSA data for 2016, “regular” mortality risk in South Africa ranges from a 1-in-1,000 chance of dying aged 0-19 to a 1-in-7 chance for those aged 80 and older. “The combined examination makes this the largest public examination that has been administered in our country,” she said. For public schools and private schools which follow the same calendar, changes are as follows: The SMTs will go first to prepare for the return of teachers; and the teachers will prepare for the return of learners. “As we had already announced before, the June Senior Certificate examination was postponed, and will now be written together with the National Senior Certificate examination in November 2020,” she said. The DBE will work closely with all nine Provincial Education Departments, to establish the true extent of the impact of the virus, resulting from the unfortunate demise of educators, workers and leaders in the sector, especially during the December / January holidays. Herald Reporter. All stakeholders were united in supporting a delay in the opening of schools. Preparations for the reopening of schools have reached an advanced stage with Government inspecting all schools … The COVID-19 infection rate has increased, and more people are getting infected by the virus. Following the revision of the school calendar, schools will reopen on 25 January 2021, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said. South African schools: ‘Trust the system’ So far, South Africa has the highest prevalence of COVID-19 in Africa, recording close to 1.5 million cases of which more than 47,000 have been fatal. This briefing comes at a critical time in the country. While Curro Holdings and other schools like Helpmekaar College have reversed their decision following a discussion with Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, other schools are forging ahead. Schools in South Africa started reopening Monday for the beginning of the 2021 academic year, after a delay by weeks due to the second wave of the coronavirus. Stakeholders were united in supporting a delay in the sector on January 27, 2021, basic Education minister Motshekga. Vary depending on the calendar that they follow by ISASA has wiped out families... 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