Ah, yes, the book strap. An ingenious contraption. But really, just a leather belt. I doubt you've ever seen one in use, but you've almost certainly seen them in the movies. You wrapped the strap around your books and carried the bundle like a bag or threw it over your shoulder.
Students found them useful in the early 1900s, but they eventually went out of style.
Then came that middle period — the one Steve talked about where kids just carried their books.
One of the easiest ways to be a little more environmentally friendly is to cut down on paper waste. Sony's latest tablet wants to be a reusable writing replacement, though it trades the ecological harm of physical paper for the economical harm of its price tag.
Enter the DPT-RP1, a massive tablet and update to the Sony's previous 'digital paper system,' the DPT-S1.
The DPT-RP1 features a 13.3-inch display with an impressive 1650 x 2200 resolution, a precision stylus that attaches to either end of the tablet (much to the relief of lefties) and a non-slip design that makes it feel like you're actually writing on paper.
Read more: The Tablet trying to replace traditional pen and paper
A new paper from University of Stellenbosch education researchers argues that the cost to South African children who are being kept out of school far outweighs the risks of their return. The research, undertaken by academics Servaas van der Berg and Nic Spaull, comes at a time when teachers’ unions are protesting and organisations, including Mmusi Maimane’s One SA Movement, are approaching the courts in an attempt to halt the staggered reopening of schools. Van der Berg and Spaull analysed both the medical aspects of Covid-19 risk and the socio-economic costs of the school closures to reach their conclusions.
While they acknowledge that initial uncertainty about coronavirus made closing schools “the responsible thing to do” at the time, they contend that the information now available cannot justify the continued shuttering of education.
Read more: New study supports all SA children returning to schools and crèches immediately
While the directive is largely in line with previous changes made by the department, it does provide further clarity of a number of key issues.
These points are outlined in more detail below.
The revised school calendar can be viewed here.
Matric exams
President Cyril Ramaphosa says that South Africa’s schools will be ready for the safe return of students under the country’s level 3 lockdown.
Writing in his weekly open letter to the public, Ramaphosa said that over the last few weeks government has held extensive and detailed discussions with all role-players in the education sphere.
“Now, in the last few days, several of these stakeholders – including teachers and parents – have expressed concern about the state of readiness in many schools.
“We have heard them, we welcome their contributions and are taking steps to address their concerns as well as proposals,” he said.
Read more: President Ramaphosa speaks out about school's re-opening
- How the University of the Witswatersrand is continuing learning during COVID19
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- How the University of The Free State is continuing learning during COVID19
- How the University of Johannesburg is continuing learning during COVID19