Decision to delay the opening of public schools by two weeks and the impact on private schools: ADvTECH decisions

Dear colleagues, parents, and students  

Decision to delay the opening of public schools by two weeks and the impact on private schools: ADvTECH decisions 

This morning the Deputy Minister of Basic Education reported to the public that the Ministry had decided that public schools would delay their opening by two weeks. She also reported that the Department had reached agreement with bodies that represent private education that they would persuade private schools to delay their opening for two weeks from their originally planned dates. We noted this with some dismay as our schools are open and we remain confident in our safety protocols and thus our ability to offer our students a safe and conducive learning environment. 

Having fully considered the statement which was respectful of the fact that conditions differ and that private schools cannot be dictated to at this stage, the position of other schools and of the private school associations as well as our ability to implement safety protocols we have decided on the following as being in the best interest of our schools and students. 

1. We will not be suspending our contact classes for any children up to and including Grade 0 as we are deeply mindful of the impact that this would have on the children, their families, and childcare arrangements for such small children at such short notice. 

2. We will not be suspending our contact classes for our assisted learning school as the educational needs of these children persuade us that it is not in their interest to disrupt a year that has just started for them. 

3. We will suspend contact teaching and offer online and other support at home for a week for our Grades 1 to 3 students – we believe that this is a responsible midpoint decision to take. Disrupting them so early in the year when we are confident in our protocols is not in their best interest or in the interest of their families. We do however believe that a week of support at home is manageable and does reduce the number of people at our schools in this peak period. 

4. We will go online for grades 4 to 12 from Monday 18 January to the 27 January and will phase in or resume classes from that date according to the ability of the school to reintegrate and reinforce protocols at that time. We do not anticipate having any class fully online after 1 February. 

5. Boarders will be permitted to remain in the boarding houses and will be supported to engage with the learning experiences of their classes. 
Our teachers will teach from school so that we can provide them with support as needed and can assure and ensure their internet connections. We are planning to support our school staff who are impacted and do not have childcare arrangements while we are not offering classroom-based education. 

We have also made central support office resources available this weekend to parents and schools to ensure that we can begin our work on Monday morning without interruption. 

It has been our experience in the past two weeks that there is ambivalence in our community, and we understand that this is unlikely to be different with this decision – we are handling unprecedented circumstances and need to make decisions without the benefit of any precedent to guide us.  
We trust therefore that even if you do not agree with this decision, you understand why it has been taken.  

Please continue to engage with the school if your personal circumstances do not align with these arrangements. 

Thank you!

Dr Felicity Coughlan 
Academic Director 

ADvTECH Updates

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By Tamara Thomas June 27, 2025
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ADvTECH Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1990/001119/06) Share code: ADH ISIN: ZAE000031035 (“ADvTECH” or “the Company”) DEALINGS IN SECURITIES BY A PRESCRIBED OFFICER AND THE COMPANY SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY In compliance with the JSE Limited Listings Requirements the following information is disclosed in respect of dealings in ADvTECH securities by a Prescribed Officer and the Company Secretary of the Company.
By Tamara Thomas June 23, 2025
ADvTECH Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number 1990/001119/06) Share code: ADH ISIN: ZAE000031035 (“ADvTECH” or “the Company”) DEALINGS IN SECURITIES BY PRESCRIBED OFFICERS AND ASSOCIATE OF A PRESCRIBED OFFICER OF THE COMPANY In compliance with the JSE Limited Listings Requirements the following information is disclosed in respect of dealings in ADvTECH securities by ADvTECH Prescribed Officers and an associate of a Prescribed Officer.
By Tamara Thomas June 20, 2025
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