THE Mpumalanga department of education has resolved to re-employ former school principals and other education professionals to act as coaches to current principals.

The coaches will be deployed to those schools that scored a below 20per cent matric pass rate last year.

MEC Reginah Mhaule said the aim of this initiative was to help principals of under performing schools manage their schools effectively in order to produce better matric results this year.

"Another aim of the project is to provide pupils with direct support and to resource schools.

"Each principal of the 66 schools that performed under 20percent will be allocated a mentor," Mhaule said.

"The mentors will be selected from the senior management team of the department, retired principals, performing principals or professionals.

"They will provide coaching sessions to principals on a regular basis," Mhaule said.

Mhaule said the former education professionals would be compensated for their roles as mentors.

Mhaule said the direct learner support aims to provide pupils with additional quality teaching and learning opportunities to prepare for this year's Grade 12 examinations.

She also encouraged schools to provide extra tuition to learners during school holidays.

Mhaule also said her department would provide mobile laboratories to schools that do not have facilities so that they could easily conduct practical work in relevant subjects.

"The resources we are going to provide include DVDs on selected subjects and excellent electronic media support materials that will guide learners to unpack and learn the subject matter.

"This can be a useful resource during extra tuition or exam preparation time arranged for learners," Mhaule said.