The first school day is underway, with more than 14 million learners attending a school in the country today.
1.2 million of those learners are from the Western Cape. Western Cape Education MEC, David Maynier, further noted that 93 000 grade one learners have started their school journey today. At the same time, 98 000 grade eight learners started high school.
“We make a special appeal to parents to ensure that their children are at school every day, on time, ready and willing to learn. We encourage parents to play an active role in the life of their child’s school and support the work of our teachers.”
READ MORE: Back to school for the class of 2024
While thousands experienced the joy of the first day of school, many others are yet to find their seat at a school in the province. Maynier says this is as province’s Education Department is still dealing with admission pressures. At the start of this year, it received more than 600 extremely late school applications.
“We have already placed around 120 000 Grade 1 and 8 learners, and we will continue our efforts to place the remaining learners seeking places at our schools, including the extremely late applicants arriving at our district offices daily.”
READ MORE: WCED fighting to place learners in schools following “extremely late” applications
During Maynier and provincial Premier Alan Winde’s visit to Westcott Primary in Diep River today, Winde wished this year’s matric class well for the final leg of their school career.
“To our Grade 12 class of 2024, I urge you all to knuckle down and work as hard as you can. At the same time, take time out to enjoy your last year in school. To all our learners, take pride in your schools, and respect one another and your teachers. They work exceptionally hard to give you quality education to prepare you for your future.”
Getting learners to school safely
The Western Cape Mobility Department says its taking a multi-pronged approach to improving learner transport. MEC Ricardo Mackenzie says the approach includes regulatory interventions, traffic law enforcement operations and road safety education and awareness
“Over the next couple of days, we will be conducting targeted learner transport enforcement and awareness interventions. This forms part of the Western Cape Government’s multi-prong approach to ensuring all learners can get to school safely.”
But motorists are part of the collective effort to keep roads safe for learners. As such Mackenzie has urged road users to abide by traffic laws. Mackenzie says extra caution is needed, as increased traffic volumes and poor driving behaviour is expected this time of year.
READ MORE: Western Cape records over 100 drunk driving arrests
