Pupils, principals and parents from various schools across East London were all upbeat yesterday as the 2016 academic year got off to a smooth start.There were more smiles than tears as thousands of pupils arrived at school – some for the first time, while for others this will be their final year.
A Dispatch team visited more than 10 schools around the metro.
Scenes of excitement and order played out at most schools with principals saying the first day had gone well.
At Clarendon Primary School for Girls, not a single tear was shed by Grade 1 pupils.
The pupils were already getting down to business as they started their first reading lesson, with the headmistress Bev Keth visiting each class to welcome them.
“We start teaching on day one, there is no time to waste,” said Keth, who added that the first day got off to a “great start”, although there had been some late applications.
It was much the same at Beaconhurst Primary School, with deputy headmistress Laurette Barker saying most of the Grade 1 pupils knew one another from the Grade R class.
At Grens Laërskool pupils were seen playing on the jungle gyms, swings and trampoline on the playground.
Stirling Primary School headmaster Peter Johnson said parents were well organised and teachers well prepared.
Many similar scenes played out in Mdantsane.
Mthetheleli Mnene, the principal from Shad Mashologu in NU11A said the first day had been drama-free, with only a handful of parents looking for last minute spaces.
Mnene said all workbooks and stationery had been delivered before the December holidays and pupils were already placed in their classes.
It was a slightly different picture at Mbekweni Primary School, with desperate parents filling up the admin block in the hope of getting their children enrolled.
Principal Pakamile Tyindyi said the last-minute rush was because there weren’t enough schools in the area.
“We are the only school here and there are people moving into these new RDP houses on a daily basis but no schools were built to accommodate them,” he said.
“There are so many parents here today looking for spaces and it breaks my heart because they don’t understand when I tell them that I cannot enrol their children.”
Tyindyi said the school already has 1200 pupils enrolled even though it could only accommodate 900 pupils.
“We have serious overcrowding. There are 90 pupils in the Grade 7 class already and I know more parents are coming,” he said.
At AW Barnes Primary School in Parkside corridors were filled with excitement during break time, with returning pupils sharing their holiday experiences with friends.
—arethal@dispatch.co.za/zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Smooth first day – for most
There were more smiles than tears as thousands of pupils arrived at school – some for the first time, while for others this will be their final year.
A Dispatch team visited more than 10 schools around the metro.
Scenes of excitement and order played out at most schools with principals saying the first day had gone well.
At Clarendon Primary School for Girls, not a single tear was shed by Grade 1 pupils.
The pupils were already getting down to business as they started their first reading lesson, with the headmistress Bev Keth visiting each class to welcome them.
“We start teaching on day one, there is no time to waste,” said Keth, who added that the first day got off to a “great start”, although there had been some late applications.
It was much the same at Beaconhurst Primary School, with deputy headmistress Laurette Barker saying most of the Grade 1 pupils knew one another from the Grade R class.
At Grens Laërskool pupils were seen playing on the jungle gyms, swings and trampoline on the playground.
Stirling Primary School headmaster Peter Johnson said parents were well organised and teachers well prepared.
Many similar scenes played out in Mdantsane.
Mthetheleli Mnene, the principal from Shad Mashologu in NU11A said the first day had been drama-free, with only a handful of parents looking for last minute spaces.
Mnene said all workbooks and stationery had been delivered before the December holidays and pupils were already placed in their classes.
It was a slightly different picture at Mbekweni Primary School, with desperate parents filling up the admin block in the hope of getting their children enrolled.
Principal Pakamile Tyindyi said the last-minute rush was because there weren’t enough schools in the area.
“We are the only school here and there are people moving into these new RDP houses on a daily basis but no schools were built to accommodate them,” he said.
“There are so many parents here today looking for spaces and it breaks my heart because they don’t understand when I tell them that I cannot enrol their children.”
Tyindyi said the school already has 1200 pupils enrolled even though it could only accommodate 900 pupils.
“We have serious overcrowding. There are 90 pupils in the Grade 7 class already and I know more parents are coming,” he said.
At AW Barnes Primary School in Parkside corridors were filled with excitement during break time, with returning pupils sharing their holiday experiences with friends.
—arethal@dispatch.co.za/zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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