THE Limpopo department of education has unveiled a strategy it hopes will help teachers, pupils and managers improve the performances of their schools this year.

The strategy was compiled by the department with the help of the provincial curriculum advisers and otherintellectuals.

Limpopo has for the past four years performed dismally in the matric examinations.

The province was either last or second last compared to the performance of other provinces.

Limpopo's disappointing performance started around the time that the then head of department Harry Nengwekhulu left after his contract expired in 2006.

In 2004, the province attained 71% , 64% in 2005, 55% in 2006, 58% in 2007, 54% in 2008, and last year it plummeted to 48%.

"But that is about to change now in view of the new strategy called 'All hands on deck'," said MEC for education Dickson Masemola yesterday.

He said the new strategy would compel all pupils and teachers to be in their classrooms according to the school time-table.

All schools will have extra classes that will be held after 2pm and sometimes on weekends.

"School principals would also have to be in the school yard during school hours," Masemola said.

He said his department would dispatch advisers who would visit schools unannounced to check on progress.

The group would also ensure that those schools, principals, teachers and pupils who did not adhere to the new strategy would be punished.

Masemola said circuit managers would also monitor the work of their principals and teachers regularly.

He warned that the managers would act against principals and teachers who were not performing.