The Department of Basic Education says they are considering primary school pupils are possibly resuming full-time attendance. This announcement sparked questions about the health risk to children and teachers as opposed to the loss of valuable teaching time.
The departments’ director-general Mathanzima Mweli says many primary schools have contacted the department requesting learners to return to full-time basis. Many schools have stated that scientists say that children are less likely to be hospitalised or die from Covid-19 complications.
Some schools have been allowed to have full-time attendance after they made submissions to the department, while others, predominantly disadvantaged schools, still have pupils attending on a rotational basis.
A departmental spokesperson told NEWS24 that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a greater than expected impact on the country’s learners, with a government workshop this week warning that schools would only catch up on the curriculum in 2030.
The department is yet to approach the national coronavirus command council on their proposal for primary school learners to return to school on a full-time basis.



