Limpopo Education suspends the return of additional grades
The Department of Education in Limpopo has suspended the phased-in return of Grades 3 and 10 to class on 20 July 2020.
This comes as teacher unions met with Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Friday to discuss a demand that schools close their doors until the Covid-19 peak has passed.
According to the original plan to re-open schools during lockdown, the Department of Basic Education announced that learners in grades 3 and 10 should be allowed back in the classroom on the 20th of July.
The amended directions were published in the Government Gazette No 43510 on the 7th of July 2020.
Limpopo Education spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, says the department has decided to suspend the return until further notice.
"The department has however now deemed it preferable, after careful consideration of all key variables in phasing back more learners, to suspend the return of these two grades to class. Further directives on this decision will be communicated in due course," says Chuene
She says the decision does not affect arrangements that are already in place for learners who benefit from the National School Nutrition Programme.
"All eligible learners will continue to access their meals at school," says Chuene.
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Maimane maintains that the reopening of schools is a violation to the right to life. "We believe that the reopening of schools is a violation of the right to life of both the teacher and the learner and therefore we have asked the Constitutional Court to consider whether the decision to keep schools open in the midst of a surge of infection in South Africa is rational and legal," he says.