Free State Department of Edication MEC, Dr Tate Makgoe is thrilled that the 2023 academic year has commenced without any incidents.
“All our schools reopened today and operated well,” Makgoe said.
Speaking during his visit to schools in Mangaung , Bloemfontein, to check on their readiness Makgoe says he is pleased to see that everything is going according to plan.
Makgoe started her schools visits at the Gonyane Primary School in Bloemfontein.
Last week the new school stationeries were burnt when the school hall and admin block were petrol bombed.
Five men have been arrested following the incidents and have already appeared in court.
“The reports I received from our five districts is that attendance of learners in all our schools is satisfactory, and the majority of our schools registered over 90% attendance,” he said.
Learners who have not availed themselves are those who are residing in the coastland provinces and got confused with the reopening of inland and coastal provinces.
All learners eligible for feeding were fed in our schools participating in the NSNP.
The majority of our schools issued out stationery and textbooks.
Major challenges are around Burglaries in some schools. Most happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 11 January:
- In Iphondle Secondary School, they stole rakes, spades, batteries, and mirrors all worth R40 000,00.
- At Kgauhelo Primary School in Ventersburg, they stole stationery worth R40 000,00. The broke windows to get entry.
- At Tataisong Primary School in Thabo Mofutsanyane , they stole WiFi Router, Lenovo laptop and bag all worth R21 200,00.
- At Legae Combined School in Bloemfontein, they stole 342 chairs meant for learners worth R68400,00, wiring about R7000, Ceiling valued R20 000, Doors valued at R2800,00.
The police are investigating these cases.
“We really want to appeal to our communities to help protect our schools and not to buy stolen goods,” Makgoe said.
Late registration remain one of the biggest challenges facing our schools.
Most learners whose parents applied last year have been placed, especially in grade 1.
Our challenge remains Grade 8, which will be sorted out by the end of January .
Our schools have been visited by Members of the Executive Councils, Mayors, Hods of various departments, officials from DBE and senior officials of the department .
These monitoring and oversight visits will continue until the end of January.
Makgoe will tomorrow, 12 January visit EE Monese Secondary School in Senekal.
On Friday he will be at Kutloanong Secondary School and Mohobo Primary school in Odendaalsrus, Lejweleputswa District.
Enquiries:
Howard Ndaba
Cell: 079 503 5485
