- A report has shed some light on how the Department of Basic Education is intending to tackle the coronavirus

- Matric and Grade 7 students will supposedly be the first to return to school, should the lockdown end as planned

- This forms part of a draft proposal on the way forward for the nation's children

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Students in Grade 12 and 7 may well be the first allowed to return to school according to a draft proposal seen by TimesLIVE.

The report stipulated that, should President Cyril Ramaphosa lift the national lockdown, the first batch of students may be allowed to return as early as May 6.

The draft post-lockdown recovery plan was discussed with teacher unions and governing body associations this week, reports DispatchLIVE.

The document explained that grades will be phased in slowly, starting from early May as follows:

Grades 12 and 7 - May 6

Grades 11 and 6 - May 20

Grades 10 and 5 - June 3

Grades 9 and 4 - June 17

Grades 8 and 3 - July 1

Grades 2 and 1 - July 8

Grade R - July 15

READ ALSO: Fact Check: No clarity on schools resuming amid coronavirus crisis

The slow approach to re-opening schools would be 'closely monitored' and each set of grades will be brought in based on how well the school is coping.

The number of students, the quantity of space available and hygiene requirements will be used to determine whether or not the next phase would be allowed to return.

However, the department made it clear that schooling would only resume at a point when it was safe to do so:

“Given the high risk associated with large gatherings, the DBE is considering a phased-in approach. The most critical grades will be brought in first to start the primary and secondary schools, while the remaining learners are retained at home, and they are brought in on an incremental basis."

Briefly.co.za reported that Minister Angie Motshekga had been transparent when she admitted there is currently no set date for schools to reopen, with her department awaiting clarity over when the lockdown will end.

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