Western Cape Education expecting smooth start for 2006 school year

By Busisiwe Mtabane

The Western Cape Education Department says that it is expecting smooth start to the 2006 school year and has contingency plans in place to deal with accommodation challenges. About one million learners are expected to flock back to schools this week including almost 80 thousand new learners. Over the past two days the department has opened more than three new schools in an effort to accommodate the growing number of learners. Gert Witbooi, spokesperson for the provincial Education Department says that this year they are opening a record number of schools to alleviate pressures of accommodation, especially in historically disadvantaged communities.