October school holidays will go ahead: Motshekga
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the October school holidays will go ahead despite having lost about half of the learning time.
She says the delay in the start of the current academic year and the extended absence of learners from schools will have a long-lasting negative effect on society and the education sector.
She says to address the crisis, disruptions to school time must be prevented.
"The unpredicted closures of our schools, and the unplanned disruptions to teaching and learning, have resulted in the reversal of gains made in the last 20 years.
"Unfortunately, research indicates that lost school days, lead to foregone learning losses. International experience confirms learning losses experienced during pandemics, lead to long-term adverse effects, including learners obtaining lower overall educational value, and ultimately lower lifetime earnings."
READ: Virus sets South Africa schools back 20 years: Motshekga
Briefing the country on the impact of Covid-19 on schools on Sunday, the minister said social distancing requirements continue to be a challenge in some schools.
There's been a rise in coronavirus infections in schools in the current third term.
"No one can deny the resurgence of Covid cases in isolated parts of the country, which affect our schools. For instance, the Phoenix area in the Umlazi District in KwaZulu-Natal, and the Motheo District in the Free State, are cause for concern.
"The Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, continue to record high community infections, resulting in the temporary closures of schools."
