Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)NoticesDirections for reopening of institutions offering qualifications registered on the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF) as part of a risk-adjusted strategy for a phased-in return of skills development activities2. Background and principles |
| 2.1 | The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, declaring a national state of disaster on 15 March 2020 in terms of the Disaster Management Act. Subsequently, the President announced a 21-day national lockdown period, from 26 March 2020 until 16 April 2020, which was further extended until 30 April 2020. All Post School Education and Training (PSET) institutions stopped training and closed their sites of learning including workplace based training sites. |
| 2.2 | A risk-adjusted strategy is being implemented to phase-in the return to institutions offering occupational learning programmes and occupational qualifications registered on the Occupational Qualifications Sub -Framework (OQSF). This is to manage the gradual reopening of institutions for teaming, training and assessment, and to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19. An essential aspect of the reopening of institutions offering occupational qualifications and occupational programmes registered on the OQSF, is linked to the need to ensure preparedness of infrastructure and teaching and learning spaces, including workplace based training sites; screening of staff, learners and the general public entering institutions; physical distancing; and the implementation of hygiene protocols as per government regulations and applicable alert levels. |
| 2.3 | The skills development sector recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a significant impact on our daily lives and workplaces for some time to come. The sector also recognises that it has to put the necessary measures, policies, plans, systems and processes in place in line with the gradual implementation of the risk -adjusted strategy and its alert levels as it prepares to return to normal training, teaching, learning and workplace based training. However, this must be done based with an understanding that institutions, staff and learners must act differently to combat the spread of COVID-19. |
| 2.4 | Different methodologies will have to be explored to ensure that staff and learners are able to access institutions as safely as possible, that the mitigation of health and safety risks must be built into the daily life and work of all institutions (including teaching and learning, training and work spaces) and that social solidarity must guide all of us in how we conduct ourselves in relation to others and to ensure that we all do whatever we can as a collective to minimise the spread of the virus. In this way, we will be saving lives and saving the academic year. |