Sne Masuku

Sne Masuku

Education officials in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday sounded the all clear for the back-to-school programme in the province.

Teaching and learning is expected to begin at the first ring of the school bell today when the more than 6 000 public schools re-open for the new year.

The number of first-timers is still not known since the regi-stration of pupils began yesterday and is expected to end this morning.

Provincial MEC Ina Cronjé said everything was set to start immediately as almost all of non-Section 21 schools have received textbooks and stationery on time.

She said schools placed their orders for textbooks and stationery as early as July last year and most schools would be able to begin teaching on the first day of reopening.

By midday yesterday parents continued with the frantic last minute shopping for school uniforms at key provincial outlets. There were long queues outside most outlets.

Teacher unions in the province were optimistic about the new schooling calendar, saying their members were ready to start teaching today.

National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA spokesman Anthony Pierce said what was important to them and all concerned was that teaching and learning begin without any delay.

National Teacher's Union spokesman Allen Thompson said their officials would go all-out at schools to check if all schools had received their stationery and textbooks.