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Learners in Grade 7 and Grade 12 are set to return to school on 1 June.
Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, assured the nation on Tuesday night that all the pre-conditions for schools to open will be completed by that time.
These include sanitising and cleaning of school buildings as well as the delivery of essential protective equipment, including sanitisers and masks as well as teaching materials.
“We are confident that the reopening of schools across provinces will happen as outlined in the protocol that has been developed. The reports we got are showing that preparations have been taking place and good progress has been made,” Motshekga said.
Water provision to all schools has been prioritised and arrangements were in place for “just-in-time” deliveries to those schools where there are water challenges.
The Minister said her Department had entered into an “Implementation Protocol” with the Departments of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation and Rand Water to ensure that no school is left without water.
“The nutrition programme will also be reopened for all learners when Grades 12 and 7 are reintroduced to schools on 1 June 2020,” she said.
Minister Motshekga said all learners, educators, and support staff will receive orientation and training when school commences. Teachers were expected to return to school on 25 May.
She also urged parents to work closely with schools to ensure that learners with pre-existing illnesses are also assisted.
Furthermore, social, mental, and psychological support to learners and their families would also be provided due to the anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Motshekga said that a consortium of independent monitors has been appointed to check and verify information on the ground as the process commences.
She said the revised school calendar will be gazetted soon.
