The amendment to South Africa's Alert Level 1 Lockdown has seen schools return to full-time learning and teaching and the social distancing requirements being scrapped.
The Department of Basic Education has welcomed this decision and the MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Kwazi Mshengu has announced that parents now have to encourage their children to vaccinate so that they limit the spread of Covid-19.
He says that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education will be unveiling a vaccination rollout plan for learners.
Vaccination against Covid-19 for persons aged between 12 and 17 years old was introduced in South Africa in October 2021.
The vaccination programme was extended to this age group in order to possibly reduce duration of symptoms and limit transmission to others, which would reduce the Covid-19 disruptions at school.
Mshengu got a lot of mixed reactions below his tweet concerning the vaccination rollout at schools, with many parents worried that their children will be forced to vaccinate.
Mshengu assured that no student will be forced to take the jab and that parents should reject the thinking that is based on Covid-19 vaccine conspiracies.
Full-time school attendance will be commencing at all schools across the country on Monday 7 February 2021.
