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The Department of Higher Education and Training has a “risk-based plan” to save the 2020 academic year from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande and his department on Thursday presented the plan to both houses of Parliament’s committees that oversee higher education.
Nzimande said they want to save lives and the academic year at the same time.
“But, as we all know, lives matter more,” he said.
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The department presented plans for opening universities, colleges of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and colleges of education and community training (CET) to committees.
Universities
- There are different purposes for the planned 2020 academic year, depending on the path of the pandemic. The last one is in late April, the earliest in late January. This is because the department is studying 27 weeks of contact learning for students.
- Beginning June 1, all institutions will offer flexible, multimodal, and remote forms of teaching and learning, supported by approved resource plans.
- Under Closing Level 4, the gradual and strictly controlled return of final year undergraduates to programs requiring clinical training begins, with MBChB students being the first, beginning May 11.
- At levels 3 and 2, groups of students (undergraduate and graduate) will gradually join, in accordance with national criteria to ensure controlled return, physical distance, and other protocols to support the health and safety of students and staff.
- Under Tier 1 closure, all students will return to campus with physical distance and health protocols still in effect.
TVET Universities
- Students will not return to the campus of TVET universities during May. There are two scenarios: that students will return in early June or early July.
- The return of students to on-site learning will only take place once the National Coronavirus Command Council has taken into account all necessary health and other considerations.
- In preparing the learning environment for receiving students, all universities must comply with the requirements of the Department of Health to prevent the spread of the virus. Critical activities include cleaning learning areas, preparing for the daily assessment of staff and students, and purchasing cleaning materials and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- A daily evaluation of staff and students will be conducted. Physical distance will be mandatory when students return and will be imposed by dividing classes in two. Students will spend half of normal teaching time in face-to-face learning, the other half in independent study, supported by additional learning support materials from teachers. Normal class size will resume at lock level 2.
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CET Schools
- Students will not return to the Community Learning Centers during Level 4 closure. The entire month of May is dedicated to preparing learning centers for the return of students.
- Even if the Level 3 closure goes into effect in May, students will only return from early June 2020. In addition to the precondition of Level 3 closure, students will only return once universities are authorized to meet the guidelines. to prevent spread of Covid-19.
- The academic calendar for CET universities will be modified to align with the Level 3 blocking statement. June CET College exams were postponed until November 2020. Upon returning to classes, the Certificate of General Education and Training will be given priority ( GETC) and Senior Certificate students.
- Classes will be divided in half to accommodate physical distance until level 1 is reached. Regions and CET Universities are working to secure and resource additional infrastructure.
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