Politics

Top SA schools demanding Coronavirus tests before students return

Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 6:32 PM by Samantha Riddle 2 min read

- The reopening of South African schools was recently postponed amid fears concerning the Covid-19 pandemic

- However, top private schools are reportedly insisting that pupils test for the virus before returning

- The country's most expensive schools are amongst the first to make this demand

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The nation's top private schools are demanding that pupils test negative for Covid-19 before being allowed to return to the classroom.

Mainstream — Hilton College matric students. Image: Instagram/ Hilton College
Source: Instagram

Hilton College and St Anne's Diocesan College, the nation's most expensive schools, were the first to jump on this bandwagon.

Hilton headmaster George Harris sent out a letter to parents requesting that students test before their return in order to start the year on a 'clean slate'.

Harris pointed out that a single positive infection would have a devastating impact on the school:

"If even a single boy tests positive prior to his arrival, and does not return on account of this, we will have managed a potential outbreak in a dorm which will be especially helpful to all of us.”

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Motshekga announces reopening of schools will be postponed by 2 weeks

In addition to this measure, the school has confirmed that it will be testing any child that begins to display symptoms.

Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has confirmed that the reopening of schools has been postponed.

In a media briefing on Friday morning, the Minister announced that the date has been postponed to February 15.

Commenting on the decision Deputy Basic Education Minister Reginah Mhaule explained that:

“Given the pressure experienced by the health system in the past few weeks, occasioned by increased Covid-19 infections which has led to the second wave, the council of education ministers in conjunction with the national coronavirus command council and cabinet has taken the decision to delay the reopening of both public and private schools by two weeks."

This move includes private schools that have already reopened continued Mhaule:

“This includes private schools that have already reopened. They will need to postpone their reopening to a later date. This is to provide relief to the health system which is already struggling to cope with demands.”