Grades returning to school South Africa
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has now revealed when pupils in other grades would also be returning.
On Tuesday, Motshekga gazetted amended regulations on the dates when children in grades still learning from home will return to school, and join Grades R, 6, 7, 11, and 12.
The regulations form part of the Disaster Management Act. Schools were closed when South Africa was placed on Level 5 lockdown in March. Pupils in grades R, 6, 7, 11, and 12 have already returned to their classrooms.
Read: Schools Reopening: Govt makes changes on Grades returning to school
Grade 7 and 12 pupils were the first to return, followed by children in grades R, 6, and 11 on Monday this week.
The amendments follow a decision by the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) which decided last Thursday that only Grades R, 6, and 11 would be returning to school as of Monday, leaving pupils in grades 1, 2, 3, and 10 to continue their learning from home.
According to the amended regulations, Grades 3 and 10 are expected back on 20 July, while pupils in Grades 1 and 2 will return to school a week later on 27 July.
Grade 4 and 9 children will go back on 17 August.
Grades 5 and 8 will return to school on 31 August.
The Eastern Cape education department confirmed on Monday that pupils in Grades R, 6, and 11 will return on 20 July.
The department confirmed on Monday that pupils in Grades R, 6, and 11, who were meant to return on Monday, would head back on 20 July instead.
On Monday, the Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of early childhood development centres reopening immediately. The court said the decision to keep nursery schools closed under Level 3 of the lockdown is unlawful and unconstitutional.
The case had been brought by trade union Solidarity’s Occupational Guild for Social Workers and their School Support Centre (SCC) against the Department of Social Development regarding the reopening of private nursery schools.