According to the Minister of Basic Education, The Education sector is comprised of 13 million learners; 12.4 million in public schools and 600 000 in private schools. Due to the large number of South Africans that are a part of the sector, the impact of the novel coronavirus on Education in South Africa was unavoidable. 

In a commendable effort to minimise the impact of coronavirus on learners and staff across the country, schools were closed and continue to remain closed during the national lockdown which began on 26 March 2020. The Department of Education (DBE) has been in consultation with the National Command Council (NCC), The Department of Health, all the teachers unions and the South African Principal Association to determine what measures can be put in place to save the academic year in a way that does not put learners and staff at risk. 

As at 30 April 2020, numerous interventions have been initiated via the media to assist learners in remote learning. The DBE is also in consultation with various NGOs across the country to assist in learner support programmes. The proposed school reopening plan will detail a phased approach in which learners will go back to school in phases beginning with grade 7 and grade 12 learners at the beginning of June 2020. The approved plan will be communicated to the public following the approval and endorsement of the NCC, Department of Health and Cabinet.