The province has 270 learners from 154 schools affected, where 271 staff have also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Schools have been closed for almost two months as the country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blade Nzimande addressed the opening of the fifth science forum in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Lucas Maesela from the Bopedi Bapedi Secondary School near Sekhukhune was served with the suspension letter earlier on Wednesday.
The Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) revealed, amongst other things, that levels of violence and intimidation at South African schools were among the highest of those nations surveyed.
The teacher’s union was reacting to the killing of an educator at the Masuku Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
The grade 11 pupil allegedly stabbed and killed an 18-year-old grade eight pupil in what was said to be a fight between two rival groups.
These exams, which started on Thursday, replaced the February and May senior certificate exams.
The department says the guidelines will be gazetted soon and will expand the provinces feeder zones for schools to 30 kilometres as opposed to the previous 5 kilometres.
The departments of Health, Education and Public Works account for just over half of all provincial budgets and are responsible for key programmes. The AG's report says these departments were in 'a bad state'.
It’s understood Mbhazima Mabasa was found guilty of demanding a bribe from a university student before approving their bursary.
Classes were disrupted following unconfirmed reports that a school was set alight on Thursday.
The department says the programme feeds about nine million pupils on a daily basis but meals are entirely safe for consumption.
Pupils from schools in Ekurhuleni, Pretoria and Johannesburg have joined Wednesday afternoon’s demonstration in JHB CBD.
Over 800,000 grade 12 learners will be sitting for the national senior certificate examinations.
The Gauteng Education Department handed over affidavits and statements implicating the school’s former principal and governing body members for squandering funds for personal use.
Concerned parents say hundreds of children have been left stranded without schooling.
R2m in assets belonging to the department have been attached after teachers were not paid.
