Nosipho Gumede

The Education sector is one of the most affected, under the Coronavirus pandemic.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday night regarding the coronavirus pandemic and mentioned that schools would be closed from Wednesday the 18th of March till after the Easter holidays.

This statement left many confused as nothing was mentioned about Higher education.

Minister of higher education Blade Nzimande clarified in a media briefing on Monday morning that he will meet with the sector on Tuesday morning to discuss the next move.

According to the Minister, he is only aware of two university shut down’s and those are UCT and WITS university.

“The University of Witwatersrand (WITS) has been in contact with us and the students who have been in contact with the student who tested positive have been put under quarantine for two weeks,” said Minister Nzimande.

“The University of Cape Town (UCT) also had a lecturer test positive and therefore the students have been asked to leave the residences within the next 72 hours. Classes have also been cancelled,” he added.

According to the Minister of higher education, all the other Universities have not shut down but instead have suspended classes and have done so in their own will.

“There is a lot of planning that goes on when implementing a total shutdown before it can be implemented, such as where are the students going to go, what are we going to do with the exams,”said Minister Nzimande.

As for academic activities such as graduations and sports events, Minister Nzimande advised that they should be cancelled or postponed because of the 100+ gathering ban that was announced by the President in his address on Sunday night.