The Premier of Limpopo, Chupu Stanley Mathabatha
The Premier of Limpopo Chupu Stanley Mathabatha yesterday expressed satisfaction with the reopening of schools in the province after he led Members of the Executive Council on a Back To School Campaign to the five districts of Vhembe, Mopani, Capricorn, Waterberg and Sekhukhune.
In a statement issued overnight after gruelling visits to schools in the Sekhukhune district accompanied by MEC of Education Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya and Sekhukhune Executive Mayor Maleke Mokganyetji, that he is satisfied with the first day of schooling after the Provincial Executive Council monitored the opening of various schools earlier in the day.
“I am pleased that the schools we visited showed activity, learners were there on time as well as teachers who were ready with teaching and learning,” Premier Mathabatha said.
Premier Mathabatha further said, “Our visits as EXCO across the province today were to monitor these schools with high enrolment and those whose performance required our attention. Our observations are that there are schools that are functioning well and others that require greater support and monitoring.”
In the schools that he observed in Tubatse East, Premier Mathabatha said that some schools buckled under the pressure of learner ill-discipline, coupled with heavy infrastructure needs like classrooms. He said such learner behaviour contributes negatively to the outcome of matric results. As far as infrastructure needs are concerned Premier Mathabatha said that the Tubatse area is a development node with a huge increase in population and the number of learners enrolling in the schools. He further indicated that the schools he visited are hard hardly 10rs old, but their enrolment risers about 600 learners in their inception to over 1 500 learners at the moment.
The Back To School Campaign continues today and concludes tomorrow with other MECs continuing with the monitoring.
MEC of Education Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya was today due to visit schools in the Lulekani circuit, accompanied by Mopani executive mayor Pule Shayi and Ba-Phalaborwa mayor Merriam Malatji. The schools to be visited were Majeje secondary, Mahavhela primary, and Shiphamele.