The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) believes all has been done to ensure a smooth start to the first day of school.
On Wednesday, 17 January, thousands of learners started the new 2018 school year.
To mark the first day of school Steve Mabona, GDE spokesperson said Premier David Makhura together with MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi and MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo handed over the newly constructed Everest Primary School in Newclare, Westbury.
In addition, Members of the Executive Council (MECs) were deployed to various schools across the province to oversee the smooth running of the first day of schools.
Locally, MEC for Finance, Barbara Creecy visited Mohlakeng Primary School and Lukhanyo Secondary School – both in Mohlakeng – as well as another school in Carletonville. The visit was part of Gauteng Provincial Government’s Back to School programme aimed at assessing learning and teaching on the first day of school and said to be important as it sets the tone for effective schooling for the rest of the year.
Regarding admission placements, Mabona said, “The department hosted Admission Open Days on 13 and 14 January at various decentralised venues (in districts) to address the backlog of the 31 000 unplaced learners and to attend to all other admissions-related queries. We appreciate parents visiting the centres for assistance and assure them that the department is doing everything possible to place all unplaced learners. We appeal for patience and cooperation in the interest of the learners.”
On Tuesday, 16 January, Mabona said 2 565 of the 31 000 learners have been placed.
“Notwithstanding our efforts to get all parents to apply on time so that we can improve on our planning processes, a total of 4 500 new applications have been received since Saturday.
Unplanned financial implications of admitting late applicants are substantial. Additional funding will have to be found to finance educator salaries, additional classrooms, learning and teaching support materials and school furniture. Procurement processes are also not instant and can take weeks to complete.”
He said parents who still have admission queries regarding Grade 1s and 8s are advised to visit the admission centres that will operate until the end of January.
Regarding preparations for the 2018 National Senior Certificate finals, Mabona said the GDE has opted to start preparing early to improve overall performance compared to 2017.
The Department will implement various interventions, such as ensuring uninterrupted teaching and learning so that most of the curriculum can be covered during normal contact time; offering supplementary lessons and tuition as part of the Secondary School Improvement Programme; implementing special interventions such as the Literacy Numeracy Strategy; continuing efforts to provide support and uplift poor performing schools; all districts submitting intervention plans to monitor and support all schools across the province; and the MEC, HOD and Districts tracking and monitoring progress on a weekly basis.
“The Department will also ensure that all these interventions are replicated for all the grades,” Mabona concluded.
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