Over 500 learners are affected by floods in the Zambezi region as the water of the Zambezi River continues to rise.

Confirming the gravity of the situation, minister of education, innovation, youth, sports, arts and culture, Dr Sanet Steenkamp told NBC News that immediate intervention is needed to rescue the situation.

Dr Steenkamp says the ministry is hard at work to remedy the situation in a bid to ease passage to learning and teaching for the affected learners and teachers.

She notes that the ministry is set to meet the risk management team to assess the matter, with plans to ensure the safety of both learners and teachers in the affected areas.

"Yesterday, high-level discussions were held regarding what kind of support we can provide. What needs to happen right now for most of the schools is a matter of relocation. If relocation cannot take place, it means that children do not have access to schools. If they do not have access to schools, that means we must have a total of 196 school days to complete our syllabi, and if that doesn't happen. It means that children and teachers will have to be relieved for their safety and protection, not to cross any efunja or not to cross any flooded floodplain, but actually to remain safe."

Steenkamp says that the two lives lost to floods in the Zambezi region are two lives lost to many, stating that the ministry has put up safety measures in case the flooding continues.

"The Prime Minister's Office has already done this, ensuring mattresses were distributed in the Zambesi region. Ensure foodstuffs are procured. We will ensure relocation takes place, and more learners will be relocated on Saturday. We'll also visit Schumansburg. So that is what's currently in place. National leadership are fully involved, working closely with the regions to ensure we take really strategic measures and that we ensure that regional budgets at this moment, many of the regions still have funding to procure for this emergency."