All schools set to reopen January 27, Motshekga confirms
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has confirmed that schools around the country are set to reopen on January 27.
A uniform date has been set for inland and coastal schools.
The department held a press briefing in Pretoria on Thursday to give an update on the 2021 academic year.
This comes after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted learning in 2020, forcing the department to adapt its academic calendar.
Motshekga told media the department would have its work cut out in the coming year.
“As part of the 3-year curriculum recovery plan, from 2021, we will be implementing the recovery annual teaching plans (ATP) in all grades, R to 12. The basis of the recovery ATPs, is the trimmed curriculum; but now includes the learning losses to be recovered in each grade, based on the learning losses in the previous grade.
But she believes the department is ready for the upcoming 2021 academic year.
“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the DBE has been monitoring the state of provinces on a weekly basis to ensure that provinces have systems in place to cope under the pandemic and to provide support where support is needed, to ensure smooth reopening and running of schools.
“All provinces have finalised admission processes. District offices will be available to assist parents where the need arises,” Motshekga said.
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According to Mosthekga, some 300 000 new pupils are expected to enter the system next year.
“Our main challenge is around the grade 1s because the planning is not very easy because we don’t know very well what to expect, whereas in grade 8s it will be learners who have been in the system.”
She added the biggest challenges in admission for grade 1 and grade 8s include late responses from parents and the falsifying of documents.
Listen to Motshekga below: