Staff Reporter
Over a hundred thousand learners in Grades 6 and 11 in the Free State are expected back in school tomorrow as the country tries to get more classes started after they were forced to close last month in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
A total of 58 653 Grade 6 and 43 120 Grade 11 learners will resume classes as more classes are phased in.
Grades 7 and 12 have already resumed learning.
In a statement, the Free State Department of Education said Acting MEC Thembeni Nxangisa and senior officials will visit two schools in Bloemfontein to monitor the phasing in of the two grades.
“The acting MEC will be at Heatherdale Secondary School at 08h30 and later at Batho Primary School at 10h00,” said a statement issued by department spokesperson Howard Ndaba.
Nxangisa is standing in for MEC Tate Makgoe who is recovering from COVID-19 after testing positive a few weeks ago.
Head of department Tsoarelo Malakoane also tested positive last week and is self-isolating at home.
The phased re-opening follows the recent directive by President Cyril Ramaphosa to gradually allow certain grades back to school as the country gravitated to Alert Level 2 of the national lockdown.
“Normal schooling in year 2020 has been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and put a strain on learners, parents and the department.
“However, all is not lost as the department is committed to ensuring that all learners have access to quality education in a safe environment,” read the statement.
The department says it has ensured that all learners have cloth masks and that it has hired more support staff to ensure the safety of both the learners and staff.
About 3 609 cleaners and 2 838 screeners have been appointed at schools in the province.
There are now 34 621 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province with 20 678 recoveries.
About 596 people have died.