Ramaphosa Closes Schools
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that all schools will close on 27 July, and reopen on 24 August.
However, Grade 12’s will only take one week break, and Grade 7s only a two week break before returning to school.
The President also added that the current academic year will be extended beyond the end of 2020 and that Basic Education Minister will make further pronouncements on the academic year.
The announcement by Ramaphosa follows calls to close schools by various teachers’ associations in the country.
Grade 6, Grade 11 and Grade R had returned to school on 6 July.
Initially, according to the gazetted regulations, Grades R, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11 would return to school next week.
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.