Higher Education Department: A re-organisation of the 2020 Academic Year is essential, possibly into 2021. A consultation with Basic Education Department on opening of the 2021 year must be done and this may impact on completion of 2021 year. #sabcnews

Higher Education Department: A phased in return to the academic year with a combination of online and remote learning initially, with full return to contact teaching when feasible.

#BackToVarsity #sabcnews

(UPDATE) Higher Education Department: Given the possible stretch of the 2020 academic year into the 2021 year, the Department is doing models to ensure #NSFAS funding is accessible into the first quarter of the 2021 year.

#BacktoVarsity #sabcnews

Higher Education Department: 360 degree screening/ testing of any students/staff returning to campuses; environmental cleaning of campuses and residences. On campus quarantine facilities available.

#BacktoVaristy #sabcnews

(UPDATE) Higher Education Department: Discussions are reaching finalization to provide free data to students to access educational resources and links.

#BacktoVarsity #sabcnews

Higher Education Department: Some institutions considering delivery of hard-copy/electronic flexible learning materials to students (data sticks).

#BacktoVarsity #sabcnews

(UPDATE) Higher Education Department: No full return to face to face campus activity until peak of virus is over (possibly September 2020).

#BacktoVartisty #sabcnews

Higher Education Dept: If lockdown is lifted on May 1 then students will go #BacktoVarsity on May 4, not necessarily face to face.

Trimester 1 exams: May/June 2020
Semester 1: June/July
Trimester 2: Oct
Semester 2: Nov/ Dec
Note: Trimester 3 will not done in 2020
#sabcnews

Higher Education Department says there are 6270 students remain on Varsity campuses for various reasons during the lockdown as they could not go home.

#BacktoVarsity #sabcnews

Higher Education Department: There will be possibly funding for distressed institutions as Universities may lose some tuition fee and accommodation income due to long period of lockdown. However, online learning costs initially high.

#BacktoVaristy #sabcnews

Dep Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela says online learning will commence once "all students" have access to it so that disadvantaged students are not left behind. He says institutions are working on readiness for online learning to start on May 4.

#BacktoVarsity #sabcnews