Academic year likely to spill over into 2021

Times Live 25 April 2020

The higher education and training department in South Africa has told parliament that a reorganisation of the 2020 academic year is essential, possibly into 2021, with financial implications for the state, writes Andisiwe Makinana for Times Live.

“What we have recognised is that, given the time that has already been lost, there has to be a reorganisation of the academic year, and it’s possible that the end of the academic year would extend into the beginning of 2021,” said Diane Parker, the deputy director-general responsible for university education. “That really depends on the information we get from the experts and our discussions with the department of basic education.”

While the department has pencilled in 1 July as the first possible date for students to return to campuses, Parker said there is an agreement that face-to-face campus activity should not happen until the peak of the virus is over. When this is will be determined by scientific advice and government prescripts and regulations.
Full report on the Times Live site

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