BACK TO SCHOOL - 18 JANUARY 2012:

Thousands of children at inland public schools joined the rest of country as they started their academic year. It was a day, which was unfortunately not free of glitches. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga confirmed that late applications characterised most of the morning’s proceedings.

On a positive note, 13 of the 36 newly-built schools in Gauteng opened their doors to learners for the first time. Iterele Zenzele Comprehensive High, a school that was relocated from the outskirts of Douglasdale to Extension two in Diepsloot, was one of them. Learners and their parents were excited at the opportunity to begin their schooling in a brand new facility.

In a country where education and literacy remain a major concern, over 200,000 grade one pupils started their school careers in Gauteng, under the watchful eye of the media. Eyewitness News met two six-year-olds who were also getting ready for their first day of school.

Kaleb Gasela from Orange Grove was super bright for his age, not only expressing his love for soccer, swimming and mathematics but also explaining his wish to become a paleontologist one day. His parents Lloyd and Samantha Gasela were a little nervous but said the process of getting ready for this day was incredibly simple. The school, Linksfield Primary, sorted out most of Kaleb’s stationery needs.

Further East in the Tsietsi Informal Settlement was a little boy named Kamohelo Motloung. His new school, Pheasant Folly Primary was a government school in the informal settlement. Barely able to do his ABCs, his mother Emily Holoane (a traditional healer) was excited and hoped the opportunities created by the school for him and his two older siblings would signal a change for their family.

The six-year-old aspiring police officer did not have his lunch box ready nor did he get lunch money, as he and his sisters relied on the school’s nutrition programme. The school, which caters for 700 pupils, uses containers as classrooms, has no running water, relies on tankers and uses the bucket toilet system.

Despite the challenges there, the children are excited to begin learning.


NEW YEAR - NEW CHALLENGES FOR GAUTENG PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

Over the past few years, the Gauteng Department of Education has run secondary school improvement camps aimed at helping poor performing schools, improve their pass rates. In 2012, the fight for better education has been upped a notch, with the establishment of 36 new schools throughout the province. One of those schools, Iterele-Zenzele Comprehensive High, also known as Diepsloot Secondary School, is a public school that used to be on the outskirts of Douglasdale, in northern Johannesburg. It’s now been relocated to extension two, in the heart of Diepsloot, where it best serves the community and learners who often can’t afford to pay transport costs needed to get to schools far away from the community.

The classrooms windows gleam, the smell of fresh paint hangs in the air and even the grass on the soccer field is crisp and green – all ready for the start of the new school year. Built to cater for about 840 pupils, Iterele-Zenzele Comprehensive High has an abundance of resources, including stationery and textbooks.

But amidst the excitement of the new facility, lies some apprehension; teachers and learners are worried about the number of taverns close to the school, that operate twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

Many of the learners say they hope the state’s attorneys will help rid the area of local watering holes or put strict regulations in place. They’re worried that their classmates could end up at the taverns instead of in the classrooms, as has been seen in other areas in the past.

Twenty one-year-old Leonard Puane, the school’s current SRC president, is worried about the impact that could stem from criminal elements usually associated with such establishments. “Dagga smoking and drunkenness should not be given a chance to become part of our school’s legacy”, he says.

Gauteng Education Department spokesman, Charles Pahlane says the shebeen owner whose outlet is on the school’s property has agreed not to sell alcohol during school hours, until the matter has been settled. Pahlane says they are in talks with the Gauteng Social Economic  Development Department and they have approached the liquor board to revoke the licenses of all taverns in the vicinity of the school. The manager of the outlet, Steven Malatji is not happy, saying he has been operating there long before the school was built
 
Siphiwe Hlope, Acting Director of Communications at the Gauteng Department of Economic Development says it is illegal for shebeens or outlets, regardless of the fact that they contain legal liquor licenses, to be within a 500 meter radius of a school or place of worship. Hlope says even though the taverns surrounding Iterele Zenzele where there before the school the best solution would be to move them to an alternative area.

Despite the problems that the taverns could cause, some of the teachers say they are extremely excited about the new venture and are determined to produce quality results.

IEB: 11 JANUARY 2012

Every year thousands of little ones wake up super early, some filled with anxiety but most extremely excited not only to put on their new, over-sized school uniforms but also to finally start the adventure that is ‘big school’.

On the 11th of January 2012, 100,000 learners began Grade one in the Western Cape, whilst in Johannesburg the country’s private schools also kick-started their academic year. Eyewitness News tagged along with a few children as they started their school careers.

Six-year-old Koketso Mashao from Little Falls, in western Jo’burg, was a little apprehensive when we dropped in to check on preparations for her first day. Her mother Mpho Moleme and her grandmother, who travelled from Klerksdorp to witness her granddaughter’s first day of school, were extremely excited. “We’ve waited for this day for so long but now it almost fells like we preparing her for University studies”, Moleme said.

As the minutes ticked closer to school-time, Koketso explained that she dreaded having to deal with homework and was worried that her mom might not let her watch television. When Koketso was finally dropped off at Curro Aurora in Rand Park Ridge, she started relaxing and settled into her class with 22 other children.

In another part of the city, 44 other children wearing shiny new shoes and brightly checked uniforms made their way to Rodean School. They spent the early morning colouring-in and making new friends, before diving straight into being taught Afrikaans and the alphabet.

Written by: Matshidso Madia


HEALTHY BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCHES

Packing delicious but healthy lunches, that aren’t going to turn mouldy at the bottom of school bags, can be a hassle. Not only do mums have to deal with busy schedules and fussy eaters, but it’s often difficult to find a variety of recipes that won’t bore your child’s palate. 

Little Cooks Club, a local cooking school, has created a Healthy Lunch Box Challenge. It is encouraging parents to get their children to eat healthy meals during school times (8am – 1pm).

Club founder Christine Philips says, “There is an alarming rate of obesity in young children. This will affect them emotionally and physically as they get older. Children can’t concentrate properly at school without good food in their tummies, a lack of which leads to learning issues. Bad food also causes behavioural problems, which affects the class as well as the teachers.”

So what should be in your child’s lunch box?

·         1 portion of starchy food – bread, pasta, rice

·         1 portion of milk or dairy 

·         1 portion of fruit

·         1 portion of vegetables

·         1 portion of protein such as meat or fish

Here are some ideas for sandwiches:

·         Peanut butter and banana

·         Cream cheese, ham, chopped celery and raisins

·         Leftover roast meat with salad and chutney or tomato sauce

·         Avocado with grilled bacon

·         Grated biltong

·         Egg/Tuna/Chicken mayonnaise with salad

Other ideas:

·         A slice of pizza

·         Rice salads

·         Yoghurt with chopped fruit 

·         Cheese blocks

·         Small fruits eg: apples, apricots

·         Mielies

·         Carrot sticks, peppers, sugar snaps and cherry tomatoes

·         Biltong 

·         Hard-boiled eggs

·         Popcorn

·         Unsalted peanuts and raisins

·         Pretzels

·         Muffins

For more on the Little Cooks Club Healthy Lunch Box Challenge, go to www.littlecooksclub.co.za