Limpopo pupils back at school

The Limpopo Department of Education welcomed pupils back on Monday for the third term of school following the extended winter break. Learners returned to school on rotational timetables, as was the case before recess. According to the department, the return of all primary school learners for daily attendance is planned for August 2.

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“The education sector is still on full alert and will continue to apply standard operating procedures for the prevention and management of Covid-19 in schools. These include ensuring the wearing of masks, daily screening, sanitising of hands and frequently touched surfaces, and social distancing. Unauthorised, non-academic visits to schools are prohibited, based on the current Covid-19 risk-adjusted strategy level and the need for schools to strictly focus on catching up on lost teaching and learning time,” revealed departmental spokesperson, Tidimalo Chune.

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Feeding of learners benefiting from the National School Nutrition Programme has also resumed. Schools have been advised to feed all learners daily, including those who come to school on a rotational basis. “The learner transport programme will also continue to ferry learners from pick-up points in accordance with the arrangements. The MEC for education, Polly Boshielo, said, “We are happy to welcome back our learners, educators and support staff back to school. We have a mammoth task ahead of us in terms of catching up on lost time, at the same time navigating through challenges presented by Covid-19. I am, however, confident that we will have a productive third term,” Boshielo said.

Meanwhile, parents and guardians are reminded that the closing dates for the process of registering learners for admission in public schools in Limpopo for the 2022 academic year are approaching. Walk-in registration at schools for children who will be going to school for the first time or moving to a new school next year will be closing on Friday July 30. Online registration at schools participating in the online learner admission pilot project will close on August 6.