Education

95% of schools reopen in South Africa after virus-lockdown

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:45 pm

South Africa reopened schools for pupils in certain grades after two and a half months of home-schooling to limit the spread of coronavirus.

On Monday, about 95 per cent of schools had reopened. The government had originally intended to reopen schools on June 1 but postponed this to June 8 after finding out that most schools required more time to better prepare facilities and train staff.

Eddie Kekana, Winnie Mandela Secondary School principal told the press: “What we need to do is to make a mechanism of sustainability so this that you see here must not be for today, it is continuous, it must be a way of life.

“It’s the new normal. They’ll have to get used… Every day these soap stations must be there, the kids must know that ‘oh from time to time I have to wash my hands…’”

Mandla Masinga, is a grade 12 student at the school: “Ah, I don’t know, eish, it’s kind of confusing because like when the infection number was low nobody was expected to be at school, but now the number of infections is high and we are expected to be back at school so I don’t think it’s fair.”

Despite the number of COVID-19 cases growing sharply, the government is keen on the phased reopening of public and independent schools, with a cluster of grades returning on July 6 and the last cluster back on August 3.

The country has the continent’s highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases. As of Monday, South Africa had more than 50,000 confirmed cases and 1,080 deaths.

Albert Echetah

Recent Posts

Zimbabwe’s rich (Mbingas) linked to state looting

Gilbert Machokoto, a former teacher, said that setting up a business in the late 1980s, shortlyafter Zimbabwe's independence, was ‘like…

November 4, 2024

Historic Shift in Botswana as PresidentConcedes to Opposition Victory

Following elections in which the party that had ruled the diamond-rich nation for almost 60years suffered a historic setback. Botswana's…

November 4, 2024

Lightning Strike at Uganda Refugee CampClaims 14 Lives, Including Children

A lightning strike at a refugee camp in Uganda kills 14 people including children with 34 othershospitalized. The incident happened…

November 4, 2024

From television hopeful to red carpet royalty: Kuhle Adams’ journey frompresenter to South Africa’s biggest awards

From TV hopeful to red carpet royalty, Kuhle Adams' journey is a remarkable story of talentand perseverance. Beginning as an…

November 3, 2024

Breaking Barriers: Kenya’s First FemaleCoach in Men’s Premier League MakesHistory

A new dawn in African football dawns as Jackline Juma is set to become the firstwoman to coach a men’s…

November 3, 2024

Kithure Kindiki Sworn In as Kenya’sDeputy President Amid Court Stoppedhis Appointment Last Time

Last Friday Kithure Kindiki was again inaugurated as Kenya's new deputy president followinglegal challenges by his predecessor.The man who Kindiki…

November 3, 2024

This website uses cookies.