South Africa Reopens Schools On Monday

President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed on Sunday evening that schools would reopen on Monday, 26 July.

Primary school learners are set to return to daily classes from 2 August, but the loss of valuable teaching time since 2020 has had a devastating effect on the sector.

After school holidays were hastily brought forward amid lockdown Level 4, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced on Saturday it was going ahead with plans to reopen schools on Monday, 26 July.

Minister Angie Motshekga said school management teams and support staff had already gone back to work on Thursday, 22 July, to prepare for the return of learners and teachers.

The announcement was made contingent on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on Sunday evening, during which he confirmed that schools would indeed resume on Monday when South Africa shifts to Adjusted Alert Level 3.

Grades R to 7 will resume daily school attendance from 2 August based on directions gazetted by the department on 15 July.