Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, held a media briefing on Thursday afternoon where he announced further measures to be implemented to save the 2020 academic year.
Nzimande says the department is working tirelessly to salvage what is left of the academic year after the COVID-19 pandemic affected learning institutions across the globe.
Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, Dr Nzimande said the pandemic and national lockdown caused serious disruptions to the entire university operations, including teaching and learning, and research and engagement programmes.
“Universities and their staff and students responded positively, although at different paces, depending on each institutional circumstance,” he said.
According to the department, the vast majority of the 25 public universities are at “low risk” of not completing the academic year.
He has assured South Africans that all universities are fully committed to complete the 2020 academic year by mid-March 2021.
According to Minister Nzimande, so far, it is only the University of Johannesburg that has already wrapped up its academic year, while the University of Pretoria is expected to finish this month.
Eight are expected to finish in December, three in January, nine in February and four in March.
Meanwhile, all 25 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 of February 2021.”
