Back to school for millions of learners
Back to school for millions of learners
On Wednesday just over 10 million children will be entering the school gates.
Schools around the country will be opening for the 2017 academic year on Wednesday.
The Gauteng Department of Education says 18 000 more pupils have been placed at schools in the province reducing the number of unplaced children to 40 000.
The department says the delay in placing pupils can be attributed to Gauteng facing a shortage of schools as well as late applications.
In the Western Cape, teacher union Sadtu says it’s concerned about infrastructure shortages and inequality in the province’s schools.
Sadtu Provincial Secretary, Jonovan Rustin says: “We still have a disparity between rich schools and poor schools. There needs to be a concerted affirmative action programme to ensure that we actually upgrade our facilities in poorer areas, by building libraries, ensuring that science labs are there, ensuring that the facilities are good because the environment in which you learn contributes to your success.”
The visits will focus on the delivery of Learner and Teacher Support Material.
Many top officials will also be visiting schools to assess their readiness as part of the Department of Basic Education’s School Readiness and #backtoschool programme.
Phehellang Secondary School in Parys in the Free Sate will receive the most prominent visitors.
Minister Angie Motshekga together with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will be hosted by Free State Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, whose province came out tops in the 2016 matric results.
Basic Education DG Mathanzima Mweli will also visit other schools in the Free State, while Deputy Minister Enver Surty will be in the North West.
The visits will focus on the delivery of Learner and Teacher Support Material as well as ensuring that learning and teaching takes place on the first day of school.
Source: SABC