Ready to come back? Universities in South Africa can return to their classrooms!


Thursday, 01 October 2020

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, claimed that universities can return students to 100% attendance. 




Ready to Welcome All Students Back

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande on Wednesday announced that universities were in the position to welcome 100% of students back on campus.


Nzimande briefed the media on both his portfolios as minister for higher education, and science and innovation, and how the departments would be affected by level 1 lockdown.

Covid-19 has caused many struggles this year. It impacted almost every aspect of our lives, and education was not the exception. Students had to abruptly turn to online classes, which not all students had the possibility to do. Higher education students were forced to study from home this academic year with constraints on data and the availability of laptops, especially for students in rural areas.

Minister Nzimande assured that universities were in the position to welcome both local and international students back on campus with the obvious precautions in order to avoid another outbreak of the virus. These include health and safety protocols, in terms of physical distancing, wearing masks, washing hands, sanitising and environmental cleaning. The minister said the return would be subject to any restrictions linked to their own risk assessments at a local level.

“I am pleased to say that we are now in a position to welcome back 100% of our university students, including all those international students who are currently outside the borders of South Africa,” Nzimande said.

“All universities are implementing their plans to return all students and staff from 1 October subject to any restrictions linked to their own risk assessment due to their local context and conditions,” he added.

“With respect to international students returning who remain outside our country, they will need to meet the requirements of the Cogta regulations, which includes having a test not older than 72 hours showing that they are negative for the virus on arrival in South Africa. If not, they will need to go into quarantine at their own expense for at least 10 days before proceeding to their respective institutions,” Nzimande said.

Is it safe to allow all students to come back?


According to the most recent report, a total of 1979 positive COVID-19 cases were reported by institutions as of 17 September. 

The total number of students who have been issued with permits to come onto campuses is 245,652. Safety measures must be thoroughly implemented and taken seriously if they are to prevent a massive resurge of positive cases in the country. 

Many students are reluctant to come back due to the current situation and are willing to keep on studying online for the time being since they feel safer that way. They fear that, in spite of the implementation of safety measures, they will be at risk anyway because of the crowded classrooms and the inevitable contact with other students and teaching staff.




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