According to a statement supplied by the school, this decision was made in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Free State Department of Education due to the sharp rise in positive cases, as well as the current number of isolation cases at the school. 

The school further announced that all learners will have class from Monday 16 August 2021 via Microsoft Teams. Learners from Grade 10, 11 and 12 will return to school on 23 August 2021, whilst learners from Grade 8 and 9 will return on 30 August 2021. 

According to the schools principal, Deon Scheepers, academic reports will be sent out electronically. The hard copies will be available to learners as soon as they return to school. 

Free State Education spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, says although this will have a negative impact on learners, educators are encouraged to maintain teaching operations virtually to avoid losing tuition time.

Scheepers says all extra-curricular activities are discontinued immediately until further notice, including all the planned sports matches for August, as well as the Open Days of this coming weekend. 

Parents will still be able to fetch hostel learners tomorrow, giving them time to make the necessary arrangements.  The first weekend after the hostel learners return to school will be a compulsory stay-in weekend due to Covid protocols.  “This decision wasn’t taken lightly and we had to make the right decision for the learners and the greater Grey community. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your co-operation and support in this matter,” Scheepers says.

OFM News/Blaine Jones