JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – The Gauteng Department of Education has attributed the ongoing success of campaigns over the years to early preparations.
According to officials, the 2014 School Readiness Campaign is nearing the conclusion process, which is centred on ensuring that teaching and learning began in earnest in all Gauteng schools on the first day of the academic year.
Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy has expressed satisfaction on the progress of the campaign, saying: “We are very pleased that significant progress has been made in finalising enrolments and other logistics that go with the schools reopening. Upon finalisation of this process the department will look at resource allocation in relation to the number of learners in Gauteng schools.
“Our 10-day head count has revealed that we have this year welcomed 195 756 grade ones and 142 763 grade eight learners into our system, a 2.2 per cent increase compared to the previous year,” Creecy added.
The majority of these learners were placed by October 2013, with over 20 000 late applications processed and placements done in January 2014. However, there is still a trickle of new applications received and these are being dealt with on a case by case basis.
“We are pleased that in spite of the increase in learner numbers, our school building program has allowed for a decrease in average classroom sizes. In 2014 we have an average learner ratio of 37 learners at primary schools and 35 at secondary school. We do however remain concerned with overcrowding at some schools,” said Creecy.
Seventeen new schools have been opened and 16 more will be opened in April to deal with the growing demand of space in Gauteng. An additional 164 emergency classrooms and 40 toilets will be delivered to schools across the province to deal with the growth.
The department is currently conducting an audit in all provincial schools to check on the need for additional Learner Teacher Support Martial (LTSM). Where a need is identified, a Rapid Response Team is sent to the school to provide (LTSM) top-ups.
In terms of academic preparedness, all Gauteng schools are being provided with the necessary support to ensure implementation of the curriculum. Special attention has been given to the CAPS Implementing Grades, that is, grades 7, 8, 9 and 12. Orientation sessions were held across the province for educators entering the system for the first time. Curriculum packages were prepared and distributed to all new schools.
