11 January 2006
It is all systems go for Gauteng schools as effective learning started in
earnest amid cloudy weather.
At Melpark Primary School in Melville, Johannesburg, it was a hectic morning
with everyone scurrying around as learners were allocated classes, received
stationery and parents bought school uniforms for their children who are new at
the school.
Unlike the old days when new pupils used to cry the whole day because they
were intimidated by the new environment, it was all smiles and excited faces at
Melpark Primary.
Keneilwe Mshumi, mother to Vuyisile (6) of Emdeni in Soweto who will be
doing his Grade 1, said her son was very excited âabout his first day and has
been the one reminding me all week that I should not forget his big day
(today)â.
âHe was full of excitement and he did not want me to accompany him today
saying his friends will laugh at him. He was so excited in class as he already
started making new friends,â she said.
Grade 4 learner Phetogo Magagane (9) was also so excited and happy to be at
school on the first day after being dropped off by his grandmother. âI am
looking forward to making new friends as this is my first time here â because I
was attending school in Polokwane last year where I will miss my friends, but I
was here over the school holidays so it shouldnât be a problem,â said the
youngster.
Poppie Phiri from Meadowlands in Soweto accompanied her two siblings, Lebo
(Grade 1) and Junior (Grade 4). The two âwere very happy and excited about
today and you can see Lebo looks great in her new uniform,â she said with
pride.
The principal of Melpark Primary, Nalini Padayachee, said that the teachers
was âlooking forward to having fun while teaching and enjoying what we do â our
objective is to built confident, energetic and charismatic children so that we
can build a school with its own characterâ.
Padayachee couldnât say how many Grade 1 learners were enrolled at the
school because many parents were still trying to get their children signed up
this morning.
After assembly, learning started with great earnest with Padayachee
attributing this to âgood organisationâ.
âWe received learner and teacher material well on time and it is all systems
go with the only challenge being that some of the parents did not register
their children early enough. We cannot send children back and still have to
accommodate them,â she said.
Contact: Vivienne Rowland
Deputy Director: News and Media Liaison
Office of the Premier, Gauteng
Tel: (011) 355 6414
Fax: (011) 355 6245
Cell: 083 395 1239
E-mail: vivienner@gpg.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
11 January 2006
