Education ministry announces re-opening of schools

By Staff Reporter

Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has announced the re-opening of schools and resumption of face-to-face learning next month.

This came after consultation with its stakeholders as per Cabinet endorsement to announce the reopening of schools and subsequent resumption of one on one teaching and learning of learners in schools for the remainder of 2020 academic year in Namibia.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, the Executive Director in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture Ms. Sanet Steenkamp clarified that learners have been categorized into four phases for the resumption of face-to-face learning.

However, phase one (1) will resume on Wednesday June 3, to 18 December 2020 and that will be for Grade 11 and 12 learners.

Phase two (2) for pre-primary to Grade 3, learners will start on 22 June to December 18, 2020. Grade 7 and 9 will fall under phase three (3) that will re-open on 6 July to 18 December 2020.

Grade 4,5,6,8 and 10 learners will be the last to return to school on July 20, to December 18, 2020.

The mid-term break for teachers is scheduled from the 22^nd to 29^th of May 2020 and resumes their duties on June 1, 2020.

It is also noted that the revised calendar with the ministerial guidelines on the re-opening of schools will still be communicated.

Ms. Steenkamp further explained that “The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture together with the Regional Directorates of Education, Arts and Culture, schools,  parents, other stakeholders and the community at large, will make all the resources at its disposal available to ensure that safety of the learners is prioritized and ensured, as far as possible, at the school”.