In most areas of the province it was all systems go as about 790 000 learners returned to their classrooms.
In Matsulu and Kwaggafontein challenges were encountered and schools remained closed after parents and community members turned pupils and teachers away, citing safety issues.
Mpumalanga News visited a number of schools, including Lekazi Primary and Portia Shabangu Secondary, where teachers were hard at work trying to inculcate the culture of adhering to social distancing and sanitisation in the
learners.
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Spokesperson for education, Jasper Zwane, said approximately 95 per cent of children returned to schools
and they were pleased with the overall response from both parents and learners.
“We are quite happy and satisfied with the response. Nearly all our learners are back at school and are fast adapting to the new normal.
“Only grades five and eight did not return,” said Zwane.
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He, however, acknowledged that there were minor challenges that they were working around the clock
to fix.
He said Treasury has allocated approximately R124 million to the department which will be used to address the sanitation backlog.
“We are aware that there are challenges here and there, but we are working to address them. We are cooperating with different municipalities in the province to help us provide water, among others at our schools.
“We have sent a team to attend to all the schools that experienced challenges and we will hopefully be able to start receiving learners soon,” he continued.
The MEC for the Department of Education, Bonakele Majuba, refuted claims by some parents who said that certain schools were not keeping to the safety and health regulations as required by law.
