Pretoria - Thousands of learners from inland provinces start their academic year today, with many brave Grade 1s beginning their 12 years of schooling.
Government officials, including ministers and MECs, will visit various schools to ensure that the first day gets off to a smooth start.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her Deputy Enver Surty will be in Limpopo visiting two Bela-Bela schools to oversee readiness at the start of the 2012 schooling year.
Motshekga will be in Hleketani Primary School, while Surty will be at Spa Park Primary School at 7am.
As part of the back to school campaign, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, accompanied by Education MEC Barbara Creecy, will visit schools in Cosmo City - Cosmo City Primary No 1 and Cosmo City Secondary School.
Mokonyane and her team will later visit Itirele-Zenzele Secondary School in Diepsloot.
During the visit, Mokonyane is expected to meet with the school governing bodies of the respective schools, and communities will get a chance to engage the provincial government on the challenges facing schooling in their areas.
It is hoped that these visits will lead to stronger relationships between government and communities so as to improve support for schools, teachers and learners, and better the quality of education for all children, youth and adults, especially the poor.
Creecy has advised parents who are still seeking space in schools not to go to the schools but go to their nearest district offices where the department has set up operation centres.
District officials will advise parents on the capacity of schools and help to place learners.
Late applications will be handled at the special operation centres established at head office and district offices to allow principals to manage the curriculum in schools from the first day of schooling.
Learning and teaching in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Western Cape commenced last week Wednesday, whilst learners from inland provinces, including Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Free State, go back to school today.
