MBABANE – Following the rising numbers of people testing positive to COVID-19, government has acted swiftly by announcing that only completing classes will re-open on Monday, 9 August 2021.
In a statement by Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini today, the three classes are Grade 7, Form 3 and Form 5. The premier has stated that all other classes will remain closed until further notice.
The new development in school calendar has brought relief to parents who were actually concerned that opening schools under the current circumstance was a huge risk.
The PM stated that Eswatini is well under the tight grip of the COVID-19 pandemic with the third wave pinning its unpredictability on full mast. He disclosed that over the past four days, the Kingdom has recorded 29 deaths and 3177 new infections.
“This alarming rise in both infections and deaths has required us to reconsider our position on the opening of schools on Monday. While this decision was taken with the best interest of our children at heart and having considered all other factors at the time, we have since felt it necessary to make certain adjustments to limit the adverse impact of the recent escalation in infection rates,” he said.
He continued: “It is in that regard that government announces that only completing classes will be reopening on Monday, 9 August 2021; that is Grade 7, Form 3 and Form 5. All other classes will remain closed. The decision to close all other classes will be reviewed over the next two weeks while we monitor the situation on the ground. Government remains committed to a safe reopening of schools and avoiding any prolonged closure of the other classes,”
The PM further informed the nation that;
- Internal examinations will be shifted to February 2022.
- Grade 7 and Form 3 examinations will also be written in mid February 2022.
- Form Five examinations (EGCSE) will be administered in mid-March 2022.
- Form Five examinations (IGCSE) will continue as originally scheduled in October and November this year.
“We encourage parents, guardians and the general public to continue supporting our children as they go back to school and appeal for patience as we continuously review how the other classes will be phased back to normality,” he said.
In closing, the PM appealed to all emaSwati to vigilantly comply with COVID-19 Regulations and protocols as the country is navigating this trying period of intense COVID-19 infections.
