Covid-19 sees independent schools delay reopening by week

The move to delay the start of the academic year was confirmed by the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (Isasa) on Tuesday.

Independent schools were scheduled to reopen on January 12.

Isasa executive director Lebogang Montjane says schools are encouraged to make use of online teaching and learning. 

“The preparations for schools are going to change accordingly and our staff members, teachers and administrators have adjusted their calendars. 

“The point is we need to reconsider how we actually reopen, and this is something we have told our membership to consider as well, is that they may need to think about online and in-person instruction, but not all schools should return at the same time, simply because the numbers are quite big.

“What the latest wave seems to be indicating is that this new variant of Covid does affect younger students, younger people than the previous strain. So, with that in mind, Isasa is recommending that we look at how we re-enroll under these conditions.” 

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Montjane says the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to move the country back to level 3 of the lockdown was a deciding factor.  

“Isasa member schools were meant to have opened on the 12th and 13th of January but following the president moving the country to level three lockdown, it becomes evident that we had to reconsider both the reopening of schools, as well as pre-school activities such as camps and orientation.”