http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news...y-but-no-stationery-at-some-schools-1.1211433
Teachers’ unions in KZN expressed concerns that a number of state schools in the province had not received textbooks and stationery – in some cases even chalk – as the school year got under way on Wednesday.
National Teachers Union deputy president Allen Thompson said the first day had gone reasonably well, but a few hiccups needed the MEC’S urgent attention. “We did receive reports that some schools did not have substitute teachers to replace those who were on maternity leave, and these are mainly maths and science teachers,” he said.
Thompson said they had also received calls from schools that had not received stationery and textbooks.
“A school in Ladysmith said when they had phoned to enquire about their stationery, they were told they should wait for three weeks,” he said.
“We can’t expect good results at the end of the year, if this how we start off,” he said.
Thompson said there were schools that had been damaged by the recent storms and had not been fixed.
The National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) KZN said yesterday that they were conducting a survey on school readiness for 2012.
Naptosa KZN chief executive, Anthony Pierce, said: “Thus far it appears the majority of the schools have received their learner, teacher support material, teachers are in possession of learning programmes, including work schedules, lesson plans, timetable and class lists. Reportedly, most of the planning took place in the last week of the 2011 school term.”
Pierce said Hoërskool Richardsbaai, Malvern Primary, Kokstad College and Howick Preparatory had all reported a good first day.
However, Pierce said Ixopo Primary reported that not all the ordered stationery had been delivered and the school had not received all workbooks.
Educators’ Union of South Africa president S’celo Bhengu said things were going well at most Durban schools, but some teachers were disheartended because they had yet to be paid for marking exam papers.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday paid a visit to several schools around Vryheid. He said he was pleased to see that learning and teaching was in full swing at all the schools visited.
At Hlanguza Combined School, Mkhize had a lengthy discussion with school principal about the school’s poor performance in last year’s matric results. “I am very worried about the low pass rate, and especially the high failure rate in mathematics,” said Mkhize.
The principal and governing body pointed to a number of problems that have contributed to the dire situation. These included the availability of alcohol near the school.
The principal and staff said pupils constantly had to be rounded up from houses near the school where alcohol was being sold.
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said they wished all pupils great success.
