Back on campus? The ins and outs of lockdown level one

All students can return to their university campuses, but have to follow prescribed health guidelines, announced Dr Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, when he addressed the media on 30 September 2020.

The address comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent announcement of the country’s move to level one of the nationwide lockdown. 

Universities have decided on different approaches to reintroduce students back on campus and North-West University (NWU) has been one of the first universities to allow students back from 18 September, following the introduction of extensive safety procedures. 

Nzimande said: ‘We will now be able to move to a 50 percent occupancy of rooms up to a maximum of 250 persons indoors at a time, with ventilation of rooms remaining critical.” 

Another  issue that Nzimande addressed was the uncertainty surrounding the completion of the 2020 academic year. He said that 10 universities aim to complete the academic year before the end of the 2020 calendar year, four universities plan to end in January 2021, seven universities plan to complete in February 2021, and five universities plan to complete in March 2021.” 

“It is anticipated that as students return to campus with the move to level one, the teaching and learning programme will advance more rapidly, with catch-up programmes for students who have not been able to engage satisfactorily to be implemented,” said Nzimande.

On the campuses of the NWU, classes will remain online for the rest of the year, according to a statement by the university. Students can continue their studies from home, if they wish to look after their well-being and safety. 

But those who return to campus,  have to complete the following safety protocols: wear masks, complete an online quiz with general COVID-19 questions and answer a COVID-19 symptoms related survey on the NWU DIY service website everyday before they enter the campus. Once the student has passed the quiz and answered the survey, the student must sanitise and check his/her temperature using a thermometer at the entrance gates to the campus. The thermometer scans the student’s face and records the temperature. Thereafter, students are allowed access to campus. Once on campus, students should wear a mask at all times and adhere to social distancing. 

NWU spokesperson Louis Jacobs said, “It is the student’s responsibility to adhere to safety measurements while on campus,  as the university cannot control student’s actions. If students are discovered not adhering to the safety regulations, they will be fined.”

Students have studied from home for the past six months, as South Africa implemented a lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID- 19. Throughout lockdown levels five to one of the pandemic,  students have become accustomed to online studying. During level two some students returned to campus because of issues that impeded their education.  

Mirriam Nkosi, a parent of a  NWU student said, “I believe that if the university is taking the correct procedures into making sure that it’s a safe environment for students to go back to, then I’m okay with students going back to campus under level one. In the end a lot of students need the resources that the university can provide that they can’t get at home.” – Education desk