The spike in the number of coronavirus cases has forced the South African government to shut down public schools across the country.
The government had initially reopened schools following relative drop in the number of cases.
According to the government, the move was to allow students in their final years at primary and secondary school to return to learning.
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But early this month, there was reported increase in the number of cases recorded by the country, predominantly among those rendering essential services.
As of July 15, a total of 7,021 South African police officers had tested positive for COVID-19.
Over 5,000 health workers have also been infected with the virus.
An unpleasant development that forced the government to take drastic step let the ravaging virus find its way to schools.
However, while addressing the nation on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the “cabinet has decided that all public schools should take a break for the next four weeks.”
He said schools will be closed from July 27 and are scheduled to reopen on August 24, adding that the academic session which is scheduled to end in December will be extended.
“We have taken a deliberately cautious approach to keep schools closed during a period when the country is expected to experience its greatest increase in infections,” the president said.
President Ramaphosa also announced a 500 billion rand ($30bn) social relief and economic support package to help fund the health response and assist “those in greatest need”.
South Africa has recorded 408,052 coronavirus cases, with over 6,000 deaths making it rank fifth worldwide among countries with highest number of COVID-19 cases.
Meanwhile, The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa says their schools have not been closed because government believes they have the capacity to implement measures required to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The government’s decision has also attracted criticism from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
The commission says government’s decision to close all public schools except Grades seven and 12, until the 24th of August is regrettable and unjustifiable.
The commission noted that it’s unacceptable that over 10 million children will lose out on over 50% of their academic year.
“It means that by 24 August 2020 over 10 million South African children will have lost about 100 scheduled school days. The commission is however, happy with the announcement that the government will follow the North Gauteng High Court decision in Pretoria that the National School Nutrition Programme be resumed for all 9 million qualifying learners,” says Gaum.
In Nigeria, reopening of schools has also become a vexed issue that has thrown Nigerians into two sharp contrasting groups: those for the reopening and those against it.
