Only completing classes opening on Monday, the rest remain closed

Mbabane: The government has announced that only completing classes which are Grade 7, Form 3, and Form 5 will be reopening on Monday, 9 August 2021 and all other classes will remain closed until further notice.

This was announced by Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Damini in a press briefing at the cabinet offices on Friday.

“Only completing classes (Grade 7, Form 3 & Form 5) will be reopening on Monday, 9 August 2021 with all other classes remaining closed until further notice. “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.”

The premier appealed to all emaSwati to vigilantly comply with COVID-19 Regulations and protocols the country navigate this trying period of intense COVID-19 infections.

Dlamini said the alarming rise in both infections and deaths has required the government to reconsider the position on the opening of schools on Monday. He said the 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.

Dlamini said the decision to close all other classes will be reviewed over the next two weeks while the government monitors the situation on the ground. He said the government remains committed to a safe reopening of schools and avoiding any prolonged closure of the other classes.

The premier further announced changes on schools examinations stating 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.

Dlamini further encouraged parents, guardians, and the general public to continue supporting our children as they go back to school and appeal for patience as the government continuously reviews how the other classes will be phased back to normality.