VUYO MKIZE, YUSUF OMAR AND POLOKO TAU
THINGS went smoothly at most Soweto schools as the first bell of the new year rang out, signalling the reopening of Gauteng schools.
The Star visited several schools, and no major problems were reported, with textbooks and stationery been delivered and teachers ready to teach.
Some parents were seen at schools trying to register their children. Many were sent to the district office, where the Gauteng Department of Education had said they should go for late registrations.
The quadrangle buzzed at Soweto’s top-performing school, Tetelo High in Protea North, as hundreds of eager pupils and their teachers gathered to start the academic year.
Dressed neatly in their red and green uniforms, pupils opened the first assembly with the Lord’s Prayer.
Sesi Masango, mother of two boys starting Grade 8, said she had made the right decision to bring her sons to the school, which achieved a 99 percent pass rate last year.
“It’s the first year in high school for both my boys, and I believe that as a parent one should go and see what kind of environment they are leaving their children in. I have so much confidence in this school.
“Just walking around the neighbourhood, you can see that the kids from the school are disciplined and always look presentable,” she said.
local ward councillor Walter Mahlatsi encouraged pupils to always be respectful.
“It’s a new day, it’s a new year. Last year you had one of the best results in the district; this year your challenge is to beat those results and get a 100 percent pass rate. And that we can do only if you respect your teachers and each other.”
It was business as usual at Jabulani Technical High School, the worst-performing school in Gauteng.
“Change class of 2011’s 16 percent to 91 percent,” was scribbled on a chalkboard, referring to last year’s meagre 33 passes.
Gauteng Department of Education officials were at the school ticking off a “checklist of readiness”.
“Everything is in place, from timetables to textbooks,” said Joburg district monitor Shobana Daverhand.
Principal Thobile Manana was confident the school would improve this year.
“We have a new curriculum and extra classes in the mornings and afternoons,” she said.
“We are not just focusing on Grade 12, but also the Grade 10 pupils.”
Pupils at high schools in Orlando East were urged to hit the ground running in order to better their pass rate.
Loud screams echoed through Lofentse Girls High as famous TV actors and musicians took to the stage one after the other with words of motivation. The school had an 81 percent matric pass rate last year.
Poet Mzwakhe Mbuli encouraged the pupils to take the baton and continue the race at an even higher pace.
Councillor Sechaba Khumalo said they invited guests to “boost morale for both learners and their teachers as they take on a new year”.
The entourage visited Orlando, Noordgesig, Bona and Selelekela high schools.
At Reašoma High School in Protea North,
principal Smileth Ntutela said they were geared up for the year and were hopeful that they’d improve on last year’s 75 percent matric pass rate.
Meanwhile, hundreds of parents, desperate to get their children into school, formed a queue outside the district offices in Soweto.
Unable to apply to a high school because she had defaulted on her school fee payments, Kefilwe Mabalane arrived at the district offices yesterday worried about her chances of finding a good school for her son at the last minute.
“I really want him to study at Lenasia Secondary School for his Grade 8, but I can’t buy a uniform or anything, not knowing if there’s space there or not,” she said as she waited anxiously in the queue.
However, many parents in the queue had applied early for schools but had received no word of the progress of their applications at the schools.