Free State Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, announced via social media that the department has, after consultation with the Provincial Health Department, suspended teaching and learning for a week at this school, beginning Wednesday 26 May. 

Education Department spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, says so far twelve learners and one teacher have tested positive for the virus, two are awaiting results and ten more learners will undergo testing on Wednesday. Ndaba says the surge in coronavirus cases in Free State schools is a reflection of what is happening in communities in the province.

“These cases are imported from the communities into schools. So we want to reiterate our call to members of the communities, including learners, teachers and non-teaching staff, to religiously observe the non-pharmaceutical regulations, which includes wearing masks, sanitising, and avoiding crowded places. By doing so we believe we can win the war against this scourge,” stresses Ndaba.

This development at the Lephola Secondary School comes after the Free State Education Department pleaded with members of the public and parents not to visit schools as part of stricter measures against the spread of the coronavirus. This was due to teachers, administrative staff, and children that tested positive in several schools, forcing schools to suspend in-person classes and move learning and teaching online. 

Ndaba previously revealed that Eunice and St Andrews Schools in Bloemfontein will reopen at the end of May following confirmed cases. Makgoe says Lephola will also reopen at the end of May. The Free State is still battling a surge in Covid-19 cases with 6 816 active cases. The province is behind the Northern Cape and Gauteng in that regard.  

Meanwhile, phase two of vaccinations is fully underway in the province following disruptions brought on by a service delivery protest, specifically in Mangaung, last week.

OFM News