Schools re-open in coastal provinces

Wednesday’s re-opening of schools in the four coastal provinces seems to have gone off reasonably well, although heavy rain and a lack of transport are making things difficult for some schools in the Eastern Cape. Schools in certain areas were damaged by hailstorms and tornadoes earlier in the season and not all schools have received the right textbooks. Teacher deployment has also not been finalised in the province.

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore says 15 new schools have been opened in areas around Cape Town in an effort to provide facilities for the influx of new learners into the province and to reduce overcrowding. Dugmore says around 40 new schools are still needed and he is adamant that no children will be taught under trees this year. He says only two schools in Khayelitsha still have to share resources by being a primary school in the morning and a high school in the afternoon. Dugmore and Premier Ebrahim Rasool visited several schools on Wednesday.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Education MEC Ina Cronjé says 20 percent of the poorest schools will implement a no-fee policy this year. She says the schools have until the end of the month to apply for free education but has emphasised that no child will be refused education or should be victimised because they cannot pay.