The call was made in response to a decision by Cabinet to end rotational learning with immediate effect earlier this week. The Department of Basic Education said it planned to have all children back to full-time attendance from Monday.

"The Commission remains concerned that approximately 15 months of teaching and learning have been lost as a result of rotation timetabling. To this effect, the Commission calls on the Department of Basic Education to devise and implement a credible and funded catch-up plan," the commission said in a statement.

According to the SAHRC, rotational learning was "harmful for learners, affecting their cognitive abilities severely, disrupting the National School Nutrition Programme and taking a toll on their psycho-social well-being".

The commission also raised concerns about rotational timetabling limiting the constitutional right to basic education.

The SAHRC held meetings with both the education department and heads of the Department of Health to voice these concerns, it said in the statement.

Education department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga would call a meeting of the Council of Education Ministers to discuss the details of returning to full-time attendance.

"The Minister will host a media briefing to unpack the issues. Until then, there is no other comment to be made on this issue," said Mhlanga.

Source: News24