University and College students' return date to classes has been set as Minister annnounces today[/color][color=#006600]

The minister of higher education and training, Innovation and Science, together with his department last week presented a “risk-based plan” to both houses of parliament’s committees overseeing higher education, detailing how the department plans to save the 2020 academic year.


The minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Dr Blade Nzimande will today hold a media briefing on further measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, ahead of the country’s expected shift to Level 3 of the national lockdown on 1 June.

The minister is expected to announce on the plans for higher education, as well as concerns raised by the public on funding, and the return of medical students to campus.

Blade Nzimande will also give an update about the research being carried out in the science and innovation sector around traditional medicines' role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The department decided not to resume classes for both University and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges for both public and private institutions during level 4 of the lockdown while allowing only final year clinical students under strictly controlled conditions.

The department last week presented a risk based plan to both houses of Parliamentary committees overseeing higher Education which was detailing its plans to help salvage the 2020 academic year which has been affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The minister reiterated that his department will do everything in its powers to make sure that the academic year will not be lost and that they have done all they can to ensure that students are able to get their materials and get online.

The department presented the following plans for the opening of universities, (TVET) colleges and community education and training (CET) colleges.

At universities;

under Levels 3 and 2 - groups of undergraduate and postgraduate students would be phased in. Under Level 1, all students would return to campuses, with physical distancing and health protocols still in place.

At TVET colleges;

students would return to campus once the National Coronavirus Command Council has taken into account all necessary health and other considerations while normal size classes would only resume under Level 2.

At CET college;

students would only return from early June under Level 3, and the academic calendar would be amended to align it with the declaration of Level 3.