Pretoria - The re-opening of schools on Tuesday got off to a good start with only minor hiccups reported countrywide as thousands of learners and teachers returned to school after a long and eventful winter vacation.
The schools re-opened after a five week break, to accommodate 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Except for high numbers of late comers, the first day back at school in the Western Cape went ithout any major problems.
"Almost one million learners returned to school and the attendance rate of teachers was good, however, there were unusually high numbers in terms of late coming, especially in the city bowl area at schools with high commuter rates," said Western Cape Department of Education MEC Donald Grant.
Schools in KwaZulu-Natal also got off to a good start without any hiccups with teachers preparing learners, especially Grade 12 learners, who have 102 days left before the National Senior Certificate examination kicks off.
Provincial MEC for Education Senzo Mchunu re-emphasised that schools will be conducting weekend and holiday classes as many of them had been doing during the World Cup.
Only one school in Mpumalanga failed to open as teachers and learners in Ehlanzeni complained about overcrowding.
Department spokesperson, Jasper Zwane, said the department was attending to the issue. "The issue is receiving attention from the department and their concerns will be addressed soon," Zwane said.
Teaching and learning in Gauteng also started on a high note and learners were encouraged to continue attending additional classes to be conducted every Saturday in 87 sites.
"We invite learners to attend these classes to be conducted by expert tutors in Maths, Maths Literacy, Accounting, Natural Science, Physical Science and English," Gauteng Education spokesperson Charles Phahlane said.
Meanwhile, the North West Education Department has decided to shut down 19 schools in Tlakgameng Village following a service delivery protest, where five schools were burnt down.
Department spokesperson Charles Raseala said that 9 092 learners, including 262 matriculants, are affected by the protest.
"We don't know when the schools are going to be re-opened because the community has vowed that they will continue with the protests until their demands are met," Raseala said, adding that the department was concerned about the learners.
