As South Africa moved to an adjusted Level 4 lockdown on Monday, some higher education institutions are already taking steps to reduce the spread of Covid-19 amid the proclaimed third wave.

Stellenbosch University has taken a decision to put a halt to its examinations and other assessments, while the University of Cape Town has suspended all its classes, including laboratory practicals, until further notice.

On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the country was moving to Level 4 to slow down the transmission of the virus.

He said schools and higher education institutions must be closed for contact classes from 30 June.

In a communiqué to staff and students, Stellenbosch University's Institutional Committee for Business Continuity (ICBC) chairperson, Professor Stan du Plessis, announced an emergency meeting was held following Ramaphosa's address.

Du Plessis said among the decisions taken included that current sit-down examinations and other online assessments and postgraduate assessments were suspended.

The ICBC also decided the planned recess would be moved forward, commencing on Monday until 9 July.

"The A2 and A3 assessments will resume after the recess and will take place online. More information on the A4 assessment opportunity will be communicated at a later stage.

"All contact classes at the Tygerberg campus are also suspended and will move online. All clinicals will continue," Du Plessis said in the communiqué posted on the university's website.

Administration services will be made available online, and no face-to-face services will be allowed.

However, the university said the arrangements did not apply to students of the faculty of military science.

The faculty's dean will consult with stakeholders and decide on the way forward and conduct assessments.

Staff at the university has also been encouraged to work from home as far as possible.

UCT exams deferred

Meanwhile, the University of Cape Town (UCT) said all its online examinations would continue.

It added invigilated examinations would, however, be deferred to another time which would be announced at a later stage.

"All undergraduate and post-graduate classes, tutorials, and undergraduate laboratory practices on campus are suspended for the duration of the Level 4 lockdown.

"An exception is students on a clinical platform who should await further guidance," its spokesperson, Elijah Moholola, said.

Moholola added residences would remain open for students who already had accommodation.

He said: "UCT recognises the stress that the uncertainty causes, and remains committed to finding ways to continue with the academic project in ways that are aligned with the health safety requirements as stipulated in the relevant legislation."

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) in Gauteng, the epicentre of the Covid-19 third wave, was not much affected, though, due to its stance to fully continue with blended online learning.

Curfew at UJ residences

UJ spokesperson Herman Esterhuizen said all classes were taught online unless students required on-campus activities, such as practicals and laboratory work.

"The university is currently on a mid-semester recess since Friday, 25 June 2021, till Monday, 12 July 2021. UJ has, however, after careful consideration of the risks and impact of Covid-19 - especially during this period when Gauteng is in the grip of the third wave - decided to allow students to remain in its residences."

He added the decision was intended to minimise travelling by students, which would expose them to the risk of contracting the virus.

The university also has measures in place to support students who chose to remain in residences. These include an adjusted institutional curfew between 19:00 and 06:00 and a strict application of the regulations.

All students who wish to leave their residences are expected to sign a register.

"Similarly, all students returning to the university on or before the start of the second semester on 12 July 2021 should sign in before entering campus. Returning residence students will be required to quarantine for at least seven days before being integrated into their respective residences," Esterhuizen said.

Wits University said all its faculties had completed teaching and learning for the second term and assessments were under way until 9 July.

It added the move to Level 4 lockdown had implications for operations as well as the teaching and learning programme, especially assessments.

"All online assessments will continue as scheduled, whereas all in-person examinations that were scheduled for this period will either transition to online or will be postponed to August 2021, as communicated by faculties.

"Wits is committed to developing the high-level scarce skills required to move South Africa forward. We are doing all that is possible to keep our community safe whilst we endeavour to complete the 2021 academic year timeously. The third term will commence on 2 August 2021," its spokesperson, Buhle Zuma, said.

Zuma added the university was unfortunately also closing its library in line with regulations.

Multimodal approach

In Gqeberha, the Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela University said more than 65% of its academic activities were online-based, with the remainder being "mask-to-mask" contact classes.

The university's spokesperson, Zandile Mbabela, said this would remain in place as the institution awaited guidance from the Department of Higher Education and Training.

Mbabela added the university would also have to move entirely online for the duration of the fourth wave if required.

She said because most of the academic programme was taking place online, assessments were also due to take place online with necessary security measures to ensure there was integrity.

"The university had planned [to] have some mask-to-mask exams, especially in professional programmes, but [is] awaiting departmental guidance in this regard.

"We gained experience with these exams in 2020, and we always have an alternative online examination available for students who are ill, self-isolating, or have comorbidities," Mbabela added.

She said the university was not anticipating much of a disruption to its end-of-semester assessments and exams and would continue to monitor the situation.

The University of Fort Hare is also relying on online classes.

"We have adopted a multi-modal approach, this approach is, however, based on a heavy online participation. There [is] occasional learning activity which requires face-to-face interaction such a chemistry laboratory work and research. Our Covid task team will meet to review the latter," it told News24.

The university said it was prepared to handle the third Covid-19 wave based on various strategies adopted.

These include a Covid-19 task team, installation of various risk mitigation protocols (hand sanitation stations, temperature guns, daily screening and the development of a screening app); student isolation sites; two doctors on campus and working closely with the department.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) said it would continue with online teaching and learning but would, however, adjust its laboratory and clinical practicals.

"Our residences will remain open; however, more stringent social distancing and restricted people's movement measures will be implemented to reduce infections and curb the coronavirus growth rates," its spokesperson, Indu Moodley, said.

She added non-essential staff would work remotely where possible, saying the semester would conclude on 3 July, while the second semester was expected to resume on 2 August.

Moodley said lectures for the 2021 academic year were expected to end on 5 November, while second semester exam results were planned to be released on 22 December.

She noted second semester dates were, however, Covid-19 dependent.

"UKZN strictly follows health and safety protocols from national health authorities and has implemented guidelines in relation to social interactions, social distancing, the mandatory wearing of masks, hygiene, travel and protocols on entering our campuses," Moodley said.