Johannesburg - Gauteng schools are ready for learning and teaching to begin on January 15 next year, Education MEC Barbara Creecy said on Friday.
“With 28 new schools coming into service in 2014, and our inspections showing that schools are well prepared, we go into the new year ready to ensure that teaching and learning can take place across the province from day one of the new academic year,” she said in a statement.
Preparations for the coming academic year started in April, when the Gauteng education department brought its admissions process forward.
“Starting with the admissions process early helps the department plan better for infrastructure, learner and teacher support materials, teacher recruitment, nutrition, scholar transport and other support programs”, Creecy said.
Department schools received 131 000 applications for grade one, and 114 546 applications for grade eight, for 2014.
Four new schools were expected to open in April next year, bringing the total number of new facilities in Gauteng in 2014 to 28.
Over the past few weeks, provincial department officials visited schools to check on preparations for 2014.
“All Gauteng schools have placed orders for the textbooks they need for 2014, and we are currently monitoring delivery and top-up orders,” Creecy said.
“(This is) particularly for those schools that require the department's direct assistance to purchase the new CAPS (curriculum and assessment policy statements) textbooks for grades seven, eight, nine and 12.”
Ninety-nine posts for school principals, which were vacant because of retirements and resignations, were advertised, and a recruitment process was underway.
Creecy said these positions would be filled by the time school starts next year. - Sapa