Polokwane - The Department of Education is to provide mobile classes in Limpopo as an interim relief measure to the overcrowding at schools.
Some 1.7 million pupils have enrolled for 2009 at about 4 000 schools in Limpopo.
Department spokesperson Ndo Mangala said there was a total of 3 938 schools in 134 circuits in the province, which include 2 587 primary schools and 1 351 high schools.
Mr Mangala said the department would provide mobile classes as an interim relief measure before permanent structures can be built.
He said 405 mobile classrooms were being delivered to schools that were affected by storms.
"Our engineers are onsite to finalise preparations for permanent building of classrooms for affected schools," he said.
Despite the situation, he said, teaching and learning took place on the first day of school and all stationery and textbooks were delivered before schools reopened on 14 January.
Limpopo's Education Department has also undertaken to give teachers more support with the new outcomes based matric syllabus this year in order to improve the province's pass rate.
The 2008 matric pass rate was 54.4 percent with only 45 958 matrics out of a total of 84 614 passed the new National Curriculum Statement (NCS) exams.
"Curriculum support for our teachers will be intensified to improve their content knowledge in various learning areas," said Mr Mangala.
He said subject advisors will continue to offer support through workshops, cluster subject committees and by visiting schools.
"Cluster subject committees help teachers by sharing best practices in a particular learning area," he explained.
Mr Mangala said the department's curriculum section was busy analysing reports from the examiners.
"They will identify areas where our learners did badly and provide educators with support in those areas to improve teaching and learning in the classroom," he said.
Afternoon lessons, winter and spring classes will be offered to help pupils prepare for year-end examinations.
