Smooth start to new school year in Mpumalanga
The Department of Education in Mpumalanga says 98% of learners have been placed in schools.
Public schools around the country opened their doors for the new academic year on Wednesday, with many new and returning learners sitting in classrooms for the first time in 2019.
Education MEC Sibuso Malaza says they have experienced some problems with placement in Mbombela, eMalahleni, Steve Tshwete and Ermelo.
"We are still consolidating our statistics but from where we are now currently, we are happy that our first day started very well almost 98% of our leaners have been placed.
"In the areas where we have problems are what we call the fast-growing towns like the city of Mbombela, eMalahleni, Middelburg, Ermelo that's where we have challenges of placing our learners but we do have a task team that we have formed to try and place the outstanding leaners in those areas."
Malaza said they are confident that the remaining learners will be placed in the next ten days.
He is also calling on all districts in the province to achieve an 80% matric pass rate next year.
" We will work together with our schools to improve the results because our plan is that all our districts must perform above 80 %, we have programs that we have put in place that as we kick-start the academic year. We are going to convene all our principals in the schools that performed less than 70%. "
Malaza has encouraged parents to apply as early as possible as late applications affect the department's.
"We want to encourage all our parents that please they should apply on time, but we are aware that in the fast-growing towns some might have applied on time but the capacity of schools can't carry the load of learners, we want to make a plea for parents to be patient."