The Minister of higher education science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande deliberated on  progress in the post school education and training sector in response to Covid-19 epidemic - lockdown level one and towards the end of the academic year 2020. 

 To address these COVID-19 outbreaks, the minister said higher health along with  leadership from institutions, have assembled a multidisciplinary investigation team which also includes members from World Health Organization, the Health Department, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) to manage and contain the outbreaks through early identification of infected students and staff, identifying their contacts and appropriately assisting them with early isolation and quarantine to break the chain and further spread of the infection. 

Nzimande said Higher health, as the health and wellness implementing agency of the Department of Higher Education and Training, has been supporting the COVID-19 response across the Post School Education and Training System (PSET) since Lockdown Level 5, and up till now.

While Working with other experts, scientists and stakeholders, especially the World Health Organisation (WHO), the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), our sister Department of Health, and other agencies, HIGHER HEALTH built comprehensive programmes, systems, controls and infrastructure. This has been done through the establishment of guidelines, protocols and capacity building that are grounded in science and the latest epidemiological data.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown caused serious disruption to all facets of university operations, including their teaching and learning, and research and engagement programmes.We have been closely monitoring the situation across all universities, and I am pleased to say that as of 13 November the vast majority of institutions (25) are at “low risk” of not competing the academic year.  


Nzimande says he wants to assure South Africans that all the  universities are fully committed to complete the 2020 academic year by mid-March 2021. Twenty five  universities are set to start the 2021 academic year at end of March 2021 and one university in April. This aligns well with the release of the Basic Education National Senior Certificate results, which are expected to be released on the 23rd February 2021. 

Despite the crisis that COVID-19 caused, valuable lessons have been learnt. Nzimande add that he has  again been starkly reminded of the high levels of inequality that prevail in South Africa generally, as well as in higher education. Better to relatively better developed universities have generally been able to navigate the severe operating challenges with less difficulty than under-developed, often historically-black universities.

In conclusion, the Minister reiterated that COVID-19 is here to stay for the foreseeable future. It is not seasonal. This means that we must all stay alert to the changing landscape and keep on planning for months and possible years ahead. Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year