| (1) | A risk adjusted differentiated strategy means an approach to school attendance that is determined by the level of reported COVID-19 infections in the school, and COVID-19 infections in the district, municipality, province and country. |
| (2) | Primary, secondary and schools for learners with special education needs including hostels must return to the traditional and daily attendance timetabling model with no social distancing from 7 February 2022: Provided that the risk adjusted differentiated strategy, as contemplated in sub-direction (1), is implemented, and the health and safety measures on COVID-19, as contemplated in these directions, the DBE Standard Operating Procedures and the Regulations, are adhered to. |
| (3) | Primary schools, secondary schools and schools for learners with special education needs, including hostels, must ensure strict compliance with the DBE Standard Operating Procedures, the Directions and the Regulations. |
[Direction 5(3) substituted by section 3 of Notice No. 952, GG46172, dated 4 April 2022]
| (4) | Aftercare facilities that are managed by or operating at a school, and in education support centres, may reopen: Provided that they comply with the health, and safety measures and requirements on COVID-19, referred to in the DBE Standard Operating Procedures and the DBE Guidelines. |
| (5) | Where a person is a confirmed laboratory positive COVID-19 case and has no symptoms, he or she is not required to isolate. |
| (6) | Where a person is a confirmed laboratory positive COVID-19 case and has symptoms, he or she must isolate for 7 days unless a longer period has been recommended by a medical practitioner. |
| (7) | Where a learner tests positive and displays symptoms of COVID-19— |
| (a) | the parent, caregiver or a designated family member must inform the school as soon as possible of the learner’s condition; and |
| (b) | the school must inform the Head of Department of the incident through the district office. |
| (8) | Where a learner displays symptoms of COVID-19 at school, the school must as soon as possible— |
| (a) | inform the parent, caregiver or a designated family member of the learner’s condition and— |
| (i) | request them to fetch the learner from school; |
| (ii) | advise them to refer the learner to a medical practitioner; and |
| (iii) | advise them that if the learner tests positive with symptoms to keep the learner isolated at home. |
| (9) | The Head of Department, or a person duly authorised by him or her, must continuously monitor and evaluate the maintenance of hygiene and safety standards for the duration of the national state of disaster and must report, in writing, every quarter, to the Department of Basic Education on any failure to meet the required health, and safety measures as well as compliance with COVID-19 essentials in the case of a public school. |
| (10) | All windows and doors must remain open to ensure adequate ventilation. |
| (11) | Overcrowding must be avoided by putting measures in place to provide adequate spaces for teaching and learning. |
| (12) | The Head of Department must provide all reasonable support to enable schools to safely return to a daily attendance and the traditional timetabling model. |
| (13) | Scholar transport must comply with the directions issued by the Department of Transport. |
