School placements to be completed in 10 days - Motshekga

The 2023 academic year for inland schools officially kicked off on Wednesday.

In Gauteng, over 1 300 pupils are still without a seat in a classroom.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane told the media on Tuesday that the provincial education department has managed to place 290 751 pupils for grade 1 and grade 8 for the 2023 academic year.

Motshekga monitored the start of the academic year at several schools in Gauteng.

She told the media that overcrowding and a lack of placements have become an annual problem.

"It is a problem; I have been speaking with the MEC. This year they have done relatively well, this time they are left with 1500, they are using churches where we do not have enough spaces and sometimes it is really circumstances that are beyond our control, but we have committed ourselves with the MEC that in ten days' time we must have mopped up, but it has become our usual annual problem. Some parents find themselves having to move around because of jobs and all sorts of related challenges,  so we normally give ourselves ten days to mop up."

Motshekga also wished pupils and teachers a successful year ahead.

"We wish them a successful year so that learning and teaching are effective as we would wish for it to be, schools are safe, communities work with us to protect schools and children, and that within ten days with their cooperation we sort out any outstanding problems, but I really wish them a successful 2023."

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