The department of basic education has made a U-turn on the phased in return of more grades to school next week.
Only pupils in grades R, 6 and 11 will return to school on Monday.
The department made the announcement on Thursday afternoon, following a meeting of the Council of Education Ministers – a structure made up of provincial education MECs and heads of provincial education departments, with Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her deputy Makgabo Reginah Mhaule.