| (1) | The phased in return of learners, educators and officials to school will be as follows: |
GRADES
|
RETURN TO SCHOOL DATE
|
| • | School of Skills: Year 4 |
|
1 June 2020
|
| • | School of Skills: Years 2 and 3; |
| • | Schools for Learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities ("SID"): Grades R, 1, 2, 3 and 6; and |
| • | Special Care Centres for Learners with Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities ("LSPID"): Years 1-3 |
|
6 July 2020
|
| • | School of Skills: Year 1; and |
| • | Schools for Learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities ("SID"): Grades 4 and 5 |
|
3 August 2020
|
[Direction 4(1) substituted by section 3(a) of Notice No. 304, GG43381, dated 1 June 2020]
| (1A) | A school may be permitted to deviate from the phased in return to school in respect of specific Grades or dates, as contemplated in subdirection (1): Provided that such school— |
| (a) | complies with the minimum health, safety and social distancing measures and requirements on COVID-19, referred to in the Directions and the Regulations; and |
| (b) | applies prior to implementing such deviation, on a form that substantially corresponds with Annexure B, to the Head of Department responsible for education in a province, for approval of such deviation. |
[Directions (1A) inserted by section 3(b) of Notice No. 304, GG43381, dated 1 June 2020]
| (1B) | The Minister, head of department or a delegated official or institution reserves the right to monitor compliance with the conditions set for the re-opening and management of schools. |
[Directions (1B) inserted by section 3(b) of Notice No. 304, GG43381, dated 1 June 2020]
| (2) | Only those schools and offices that have complied with the minimum health, safety and social distancing measure on COVID-19, as contemplated in these Directions and the Regulations, will be allowed to open as contemplated in subdirection (1). |
| (2A) | Aftercare facilities that are associated with schools, including aftercare facilities in education support centres, are allowed to re-open with schools, as contemplated in subdirection (1): Provided that they comply with the minimum health, safety and social distancing measures and requirements on COVID-19, referred to in the Directions and the Regulations. |
[Direction (2A) inserted by section 3(c) of Notice No. 304, GG43381, dated 1 June 2020]
| (3) | A school or office that has failed to comply with the minimum health, safety and social distancing measures on COVID-19, as contemplated in these Directions and the Regulations, will remain closed until all the health, safety and social distancing measures are in place. |
| (3A) | The education department must make arrangements with a school as contemplated in subdirection (3), for learners to receive ongoing teaching and learning to ensure that education continues in accordance with the curriculum and that a learner is not disadvantaged by the school not re-opening. |
[Direction (3A) inserted by section 3(d) of Notice No. 304, GG43381, dated 1 June 2020]
| (4) | A parent who chooses not to send a learner to school must apply to the head of department, who, in terms of section 4 of the South African Schools Act, may exempt a learner entirely, partially or conditionally from compulsory school attendance, if it is in the best interests of the learner. |
| (5) | A parent who chooses not to send a learner to school is obliged to apply for home education in terms of the relevant section of the South African Schools Act. |
| (6) | All events at schools, including sport, choral eisteddfods or choir rehearsals, arts and other cultural festivals remain suspended until determined by the Minister or an official delegated by the Minister after consultation with the Cabinet. |
