Johannesburg - Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga provinces are ready for the re-opening of schools on Wednesday, educational authorities said.
In Gauteng, education MEC Panyaza Lesufi will launch the Smart Schools Project in Tembisa.
The project will equip pupils in seven schools with learning material, workbooks and other subject matter by means of Information Communications Technology.
The provincial department of infrastructure development, in partnership with the education department, has built six smart schools which are due for official opening this year.
Infrastructure development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza would hand over school uniforms to needy pupils, plant trees and meet with education stakeholders in the area as part of the government programme of ensuring effective learning and teaching from day one.
She would also conduct readiness spot checks, inspecting schools infrastructure such as libraries, toilets, disability friendliness, sports facilities as well as the availability of teaching material and teacher attendance.
The North West said it was prepared for the first day.
“We expect learning and teaching to start on the first day. Books were delivered and admissions completed last year,” said spokesman Brian Setswambung.
He said when school closed last year the province had delivered 98 percent of book and support materials.
“The last batch of deliveries started on Monday and we expect to complete it by the end of this week.”
North West premier Supra Mahumapelo would visit Nkukise Primary School in Tlhabane, Rustenburg while education MEC Wendy Matsemela would visit schools in the Taung.
In Mpumalanga spokesman Jasper Zwane said the province was more than ready for the first day.
“We have delivered the needed study materials and paper budgets to schools,” he said.
Mpumalanga education MEC Reginah Mhaule would visit the Nelspruit High school to hand over a car to the province's top matriculant.
Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha was expected to visit schools in the Capricorn region to encourage pupils.
“We are ready for the big day. We are taking stock of learner migration so that we should be able to provide support material,” said education spokesman Phuti Seloba.
He said the province aimed to improve its pass rate in all grades.
Schools in Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Free State open for the first quarter on Wednesday while schools in Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape re-open on January 21.
Sapa