The education department launches its back-to-school campaign at PFA Secondary School in Bonis Village, White River. The province prepares for over 1 million learners as schools prepare for reopening

MEC Highlights School Closures for Educational Improvement

The MEC for Education in Mpumalanga addressed the community about the closure of eight schools in the Mondo Local Municipality this year. This decision is part of a larger effort to enhance educational quality by consolidating resources in a newly built boarding school. Schools that exhibit declining enrollment figures, specifically those with fewer than 130 primary and 200 secondary learners, will be merged to ensure every student receives a robust education.

Challenges in Learner Registration Ahead of New School Year

As the back-to-school campaign unfolds, the Education Department faces challenges with learner registration figures. While over 1.3 million students are already signed up for the academic year, about 7,900 remain unregistered. Most unregistered learners are notably in urban locations, prompting the Education Department to take immediate action and develop more school spaces to accommodate these students.

Community Involvement in School Preparations

The Education Department has urged communities to participate in the maintenance and preparation of local schools before the new academic year commences. This initiative includes activities such as cutting grass and painting school facilities. Engaging local residents not only ensures schools are ready for reopening but also fosters a sense of pride and responsibility towards maintaining educational environments.

The Education Department in Mpumalanga has officially launched its back-to-school campaign at the PFA Secondary School located in Bonis Village, just outside White River. This initiative comes with just six days remaining before schools open on January 15th, aimed at ensuring that over 1.3 million learners are ready to return to the classroom. The Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education emphasized that the province's preparations are well underway, having been in place since the previous year to support the influx of students. Among the announcements made, it was revealed that eight schools will close this year to improve educational quality in the region. During the launch, the MEC clarified the reasoning behind the closure of these schools in the Mondo Local Municipality. These closures, planned for the second term, involve schools deemed unviable, such as those with fewer than 130 learners at primary level and under 200 at secondary level. As part of a transformation strategy, the students from the closed schools will be moved to a newly built, state-of-the-art boarding school, aiming to provide equal educational opportunities regardless of a child's geographical location, whether they live on a farm or in urban areas. The MEC underscored the importance of avoiding multi-grade classrooms which compromise educational quality. Moreover, the department is actively addressing the registration of learners for the upcoming academic year. While over 1.3 million students are already registered, there remain approximately 7,900 learners yet to enroll, particularly in urban areas where migration from rural locations increases enrollment pressure. New strategies are underway, including the establishment of mobile classrooms in high-demand areas and negotiations with private institutions to accommodate the excess of learners. With support from local communities encouraged for school maintenance, preparations continue as the academic year approaches.