On Tuesday 11 January, the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, announced that the matric results of 2021 will not be published in the newspapers.
Althought the publishing of learners matric results was done for many years, Motshekga said that this will go against the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) which came into effect on 1 July 2021. Learners will however still be able to get their results on 21 January at the school where they matriculated.
With many inland schools which opened yesterday and the schools in the coastal provinces opening next week, Simone Geyer, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Basic Education, said primary schools will be able to open on full capacity.
High schools will be able to operate at full capacity provided that social distancing by learners in classrooms is adhered to.
“We have sought to find every strategy to keep the sector going, even under such difficult conditions. Working together with our stakeholders, we have been able to return all learners back to school at primary level,” Motshekga said.
“Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the Basic Education Sector in the last two years. We have spoken before about the learning losses incurred as a direct result of the novel Covid-19 pandemic – from the loss of teaching and learning time, to education personnel losing their lives to Covid-19 complications.”
Motshekga applauded schools for doing all they can to ensure that protocols are observed at all times.
She also said the department is aware that there are still learners who are yet to be placed in schools and that they are working hard to help these learners.
Regarding spectators permitted at school sport venues, Motshekga said that once stakeholders have made their inputs, the amendment regarding this will be gazetted.
