Pretoria - It's all systems go as thousands of schools in four coastal provinces open their doors as the 2012 academic year kicks off today.
Learning and teaching in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Western Cape commence today. Learners from inland provinces including Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Free State will go back to school next week Wednesday.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will this week visit KwaZulu-Natal to oversee the readiness of schools as they re-open.
Motshekga, who will be accompanied by provincial Education MEC Senzo Mchunu, will today visit Phesheya Primary and Isiphephelo High schools in Uthungulu District and on Thursday, she is expected to visit Sigananda Primary and Nkandla Secondary in Nkandla Ward.
Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant, including education officials, will also this morning visit schools across the province to assess school readiness and to wish learners and educators well for the academic year.
During the visits, Grant will be on stand-by to provide assistance at schools where there are late registrations and any other last-minute tasks that need to be completed.
"This morning, my first visit for the day will be at Ekuthuleni Primary in Bloekombos, where I will be meeting the school's new intake of around 120 learners... This is a very stressful and exciting day for many of our Grade 1 learners and even their parents, I am sure to expect some tears!" Grant said.
The province is expecting around 100 000 learners to enter Grade 1 this year and approximately 80 000 to start Grade 8.
Nationally, around 940 000 learners will begin the 2012 school year.
The South African Democratic Teachers' Union has also welcomed all teachers and learners back to school, especially the learners who will be experiencing schooling for the first time in Grade 1.
"We hope the teachers and learners have rested well and are recharged to give 2012 their best shot," said SADTU's General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke.
