Over 50 000 Gauteng pupils placed in school
The Gauteng Department of Education has managed to find space in schools for the more than 58 000 learners who were on the department’s waiting list.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi confirmed this at a briefing by MEC’s in the province’s social cluster on Tuesday.
Lesufi also confirmed they found space for a further 19 000 learners who applied at the beginning of the year.
“We gave ourselves until month end to place all the learners and we managed to place all of them by yesterday. It has been a difficult and painful process, but we would rather have learners inside the classroom then outside,” says Lesufi.
Even though all learners have now been placed, Lesufi is concerned over the conditions at some of the schools.
“Some of these learners don’t have chairs, some are in a class of more than 60 and some share a teacher with another class. We are waiting for the financial year to start so we can alleviate this, “says Lesufi.
Lesufi also confirmed the department will open 13 new schools in 2017.