Following President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement that schools will be opening, the North West Education spokesperson Elias Malindi confirmed that the first day back at school went smoothly and without any challenges. This comes after the schools have been subjected to numerous lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in curriculum adjustments.

Malindi said that all primary and secondary schools have resumed with their teaching and learning programmes and they are also going to continue with rotational programmes where some learners will at times be at home, whilst others are at school. "We are confident that on 2 August, the Department will still be ready to welcome all primary school learners as we will be stopping the rotational programme at primary level," said Malindi.

He further stated that the North West Education MEC Mmaphefo Matsemela attended some of the schools in the province to motivate Grade 12 learners. She also visited those learners that were studying from their homes to monitor study schedules that were given to matric learners by the Education Department in trying to deal with the complications that Covid-19 has brought within the education sector.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi