Schools to reopen from June 1, starting with grades 12 and 7
June the 1st will be the first day back to school after more than two-months for pupils in Grades 12 and 7.
They will have to get used to a new way of learning though.
Face masks, sanitisers and social distancing will become the new normal in the classroom and on the playground - due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says they're working to deliver these essential products before the end of the month. She briefed the media last night on the phased reopening of the country's schools.
"If we had enough space tomorrow, I would have said all the children can come to school. But because we had to space that in the class of 16, we possibly can only accommodate 20. That's why we're phasing in whilst we're waking at other measures, which we'll announce later.
She said some schools already have facilities including school halls and tents.
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"But to make sure that we are not in trouble with spacing, which is a major issue. That's why we're phasing so when we open on the first only the grade sevens to have the whole school to themselves, the grade 12s will have the whole school to themselves," she said.
The teachers will go back on Monday.
She's asked the parents of children with pre-existing illnesses to inform their schools.
"Schools will work with parents to obtain information which will once again need to be treated with the utmost care and the matter which is paramount, we appeal this cooperation in this regard."
She said another matter they had to address was around the provision of water.
"We profiled all the schools with the shortages of water or with the very challenging supply of water," she added.
