Gauteng saw over 100 000 first time schoolchildren entering the schooling system in Grade One last week, as schools across the province re-opened for the first day of the academic year.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said 131 000 pupils registered for Grade One this year.
Among those both eager and uncertain of the start to their academic lives was six-year-old Tiyaan Oliphant who started his first day in Grade One at Newclare Primary School.
Sirnalyn Smith and Cloene Oliphant could not contain their excitement as they prepared little Tiyaan for his first day at ‘big school’.
MEC for the GDE, Barbara Creecy said all operations at school around the province had gone smoothly and schools are ready for the year ahead.
Scores of first timers gathered with parents at the school for the annual occasion.
The familiar buzz made its biggest impression on roads around the province, which showed an increase in traffic volumes at the conclusion of the holiday period.
Teachers at most government schools returned to duty the previous day in anticipation of the high volumes of first timers.
“He is about to start a new chapter in his life and we are very excited for him,” Tiyan’s father, Sirnalyn Smith.
