By Sydney Masinga
Mbombela - Nearly 80 percent of Mpumalanga schools have already registered pupils for the 2014 school year, the provincial Department of Education announced on Tuesday.
At a press briefing held in Mbombela, Education MEC Reginah Mhaule said the department wanted to ensure all schools commence with teaching and learning on 15 January 2014 - the first day of the academic year.
“It is encouraging that the process of admitting learners for 2014 is at 80% completion and we have already advised all district managers to work with principals and school governing bodies (SGBs) to ensure that it is finalised by the end of this month,” said Mhaule.
She said districts were already anticipating overcrowding of classrooms.
“This may mean that some learners may be taken to schools that are within the same area but which may not necessarily be the first choice of the parent. This intended to ensure that all classes are maximally utilised.”
The MEC said the department had spent R329.2 million to purchase textbooks for Grades 4 to 7 as well as Grades 8, 9 and 12.
"These have already been dispatched to all schools. At the end of October 2013, deliveries were at 100%. We are working very hard to ensure that there is a textbook in every subject for every learner in our schools.
"We have also emphasised that the lifespan of a textbook is four to five years. As such, we will expect schools to be meticulous in retrieving textbooks as well as to ensure that our learners take good care of them," Mhaule said.
Mhaule said the department had spent R126.6 million to purchase other learning and teaching stationery for all the schools in the province.
“It gives me pleasure to indicate to you that the department has managed and administered 100% of orders from schools and deliveries were at 100% at the end of August 2013. The stationery must be given to all learners before 15 January so that they may be in a position to use it on the first day of school re-opening,” she said.
Mhaule said R30 million has been used this financial year to procure furniture so that every child has a desk and a chair.
“Procurement was done and deliveries made to identified schools respectively. However, the information at our disposal suggests that the list of needs is still long. To this effect, the department will in the next financial year set aside R40 million for the procurement of school furniture.”
She requested SGBs to ensure that furniture that is presently in schools is properly maintained as the department could not afford to buy school furniture every year.
She added that all newly vacated principal posts as well as deputy principal and department head posts have been advertised for 2014.
“The existence of vacant posts will however not impact on the department's readiness for the re-opening of schools in January 2014 since vacant promotional posts are filled in acting capacity until such time that these posts are effectively filled,” said Mhaule. – SAnews.gov.za
