Year kicks off with smiles – and some tears
BIG smiles were everywhere in the majority of Nelson Mandela Bay schools yesterday as the corridors echoed with the delighted screams of pupils returning to start the year, while a few calfclinchers struggled to let go on their first day of “big school”.
Schooling got off to a smooth start, in general, across the Bay.
While walk-ins created a problem in some of the northern areas schools, education department spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said they were aware of the situation and had put measures in place to attend to it.
Provincially, Mtima said there were reports of 1 805 Grade 1 pupils and 3 206 Grade 8 pupils who did not yet have places.
The department had identified schools for most of the pupils and had set up helpdesks at district offices.
The province’s total enrolment last year was 1 661 330, with the number expected to increase this year, particularly for grades R and 1.
However, the exact figure would only be available tomorrow.
Education MEC Mandla Makupula spent the morning at Grey Junior and High schools in Mill Park, followed by a visit to Newton Technical High School nearby, as part of the department’s Back to School campaign.
Makupula said the aim was to commend the best-performing schools in the district and foster a relationship between top-performing and less-privileged schools in the district to share best practices, values and knowledge.
“We are more than ready for the start of the new school year,” he said.
“All stationery has been delivered and schools received their teacher allocation in August to plan for [yesterday].”
Asked why he had opted to visit a former Model C school as opposed to a township or northern areas school, he said: “People are under the assumption that there are no problems at a school like Grey.
“But they are normal public schools with issues that need to be attended to.
“Last year, I started my visit at a township school.
“This year, I wanted to start here to enhance the partnerships between top-performing schools and the less-privileged. And I am pleasantly surprised to hear that Grey already has a few projects running in that regard.”
In Gelvandale, the St Thomas Secondary School reception area was filled with parents and new pupils, and a handful of hopeful walk-ins.
Deputy principal Penny January said everyone who had been accepted and registered on time was accommodated, and others went onto a waiting list.
Asked about walk-ins, Windvogel High School headmaster Charles Adams said: “The problem occurs every year – parents wait for the last minute to enrol.
“This morning, I had to turn them [away] and tell them to come back [tomorrow] so we can see if there’s space.”
At Republiek Laerskool in Hillside, Grade 1 pupils Michell Da Ross, 7, and Tyler Webb, 6, both said they felt “lekker” about their first day.
At Zwide’s Emsengeni Primary School, there were smiles and some tears.
Grade 1 pupil Sinethemba Ndlovu clutched his mother’s dress anxiously.
“He is usually so busy and independent,” mom Veliswa said.
“[So] I’m sure it will get better.”
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