No student will be left behind, vows Manamela
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Buti Manamela says he confident that all universities will be ready to welcome back students next week.
Universities and other institutions of higher learning have been given green light to bring back a third of their campus population under level 3 of the lockdown regulations.
Manamela visited the University of Johannesburg on Friday to assess its state of readiness.
"We are impressed with the level of preparedness,” he said.
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“We are looking at several key issues, firstly that students will not be left behind, secondly that those students who won't be returning back to campus will receive the necessary support and thirdly emphasis on saving lives.”
He said the department has given universities guidelines on how to proceed with the reopening of campuses without risking the spread of Covid-19.
UJ will welcome back 47 269 students on campus, which amounts to 18% of its student population.
The university's vice-chancellor Profesor Tshilidzi Marwala says there are specific criteria followed in deciding which students could return to class.
These include health sciences students, students with disabilities, and those with limited to no internet connection at home.