Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande has announced on Tuesday 17 March, that all Universities and Colleges in South Africa will be closed from Wednesday 18 March due to the coronavirus.
“All universities and colleges will be closed from tomorrow until the 15th of April in an extended break,” said Nzimande.
The Post Schooling Education and Training System (PSET) consists of about 2.5 million students and staff members.
Nzimande briefed the media on the outcome of the meeting and measures that all 26 public universities and TVET colleges will be implementing to further combat the coronavirus pandemic in the Post School Education and Training sector.
Nzimande met with USAF, SACPO, SAUS and various labour unions as part of consultations on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on measures to combat coronavirus on Sunday.
@ministerdrblad1 all post-school institutions will be closed for early recess with effect from tomorrow, the 18th March 2020. #CoronavirusInSA #COVID19
— HigherEduTrainingZA (@HigherEduGovZA) March 17, 2020
Here’s what Nzimande suggested in order to combat coronavirus
The meeting on Tuesday agreed to the following immediate measures:
- All post-school institutions will be closed for early recess with effect from tomorrow, the 18th March 2020. This includes the normal planned institutional breaks, most of which were planned for the end of this week or the beginning of next week. Some institutions have already made these decisions;
- Institutions will plan to return from this break on 15 April 2020, following the Easter weekend, based on the assessment of the course of this virus. Institutional arrangements will also include accommodation arrangement for students and leave arrangements for workers;
- Some aspects of institutional activities will continue during this period, such as postgraduate and research work. Institutions will, however, be utilising this break period to identify and explore digital and online methodologies for teaching and learning that may need to be put in place to support the academic programme at a later stage;
- As a sector, we will continue to meet during this period to assess the situation relating to coronavirus so that we can make any decisions on the basis of developments in relation to the virus; and
- We have also agreed that all our institutions will announce further measures that will be taken to minimise risk to all staff at all our institutions, including both our departments and entities.
[ANNOUNCEMENT] Dear UWC Community"In light of the direction from Minister Blade Nzimande and that Faculty, plans are in place to prepare for online learning and teaching from 14 April 2020, the UWC Executive and Deans have decided to start recess one Wednesday, 18 March 2020.
— #IamUWC (@UWConline) March 17, 2020
Guidelines put in place before closure of universities and colleges
The following guidelines, as established on Monday will also be followed:
- All international travel should be cancelled or postponed at this point in time due to the coronavirus. Any students or staff of public institutions who may have a critical reason to travel internationally should consult the relevant authorities at their institution and are required to report their planned travel according to the institutional protocols in place;
- All individuals who have travelled internationally should self-isolate for a period of 14 days. In addition, students or staff members of public institutions are required to report their travel to the institutional authorities before their return, so that their possible return to work/study can be effectively monitored;
- Travel within South Africa should be limited to essential travel at the current time. Wherever possible, planned meetings, symposia or conferences should be restricted, and alternative formats explored, including the use of internet and telecommunications technology;
- Every institution needs to have in place a communication strategy to manage regular communication with its community. Public health information is readily available through the NICD and the DOH and the Universities South Africa webpage will also be updated with regular communication to the university community;
- The majority of public universities and some public TVET colleges are not just teaching and learning spaces, but are also living spaces, which include student residences and staff housing. Each institution will develop a mitigation plan for its residence system, to ensure that protocols and controls are in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and to provide for isolation facilities where necessary; and
- All students and staff are urged to take the appropriate social distancing protocols very seriously. These include limiting social interaction, keeping appropriate distance from other people, not shaking hands or hugging, regular hand-washing, immediate consultation with health services in the event that you develop a fever or cough, and appropriate self-isolation If you fall ill.
