Department of Education ready for the new school year

MBOMBELA-Schools in the province are opening on the 14th of January 2015 and the Department of Education has assured parents and learners that it is ready for the year ahead.

The admission of learners for the 2015 school year was concluded at the end of August last year. Those parents whose children were unable to get admission are currently being assisted by the admissions committee in their respective districts.

In order to ensure that every learner has access to education, there are several schools that will be operating for the first time this year. These are the Emakhazeni Boarding School in Emakhazeni Local Municipality and the Ubuhlebuzile Secondary School which falls under the UMkhondo Local Municipality. There are also two new primary schools actually planned for 2016 for the Emalahleni Local Municipality in Klarinnet and for Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Arorand. However because of spatial constraints, the department is currently using mobile classes as an interim measure.

Furthermore, the department has already delivered all the Learning and Teaching Support Material to schools within the province based on the number of learners per school per grade that each school submitted to the Department. The schools which reported shortages in terms of the materials needed, will have their supplies delivered before the start of the new school year. This is to ensure that teaching and learning can start on the first day of school regardless of the fact that parents may have not met some school obligations.

Nevertheless, the department requests that parents start making the required preparations for their children’s education now so that they don’t experience challenges when schools re-open.