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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Mr Sihle Zikalala wishes all learners, teachers and all stakeholders in the education sector in the province a wonderful, amazing and creative school year full of a positive spirit.

At least 2.8 million learners (23% of all learners in the country) who have enrolled in over 6000 schooling facilities in the province are expected to turn up for the start of the 2020 academic year which begins in earnest tomorrow on Wednesday, 15 January 2020.

Premier Zikalala has encouraged all parents to inspire all learners going back to school, from Grade R to Matric, to raise the bar and excel in this school year and enjoy their first day back in school after the summer holidays.

"Education is an apex priority for the Provincial Government. It is an engine that propels our growth and development.  It is also through education that we can accelerate the mandate to drive economic transformation, fight poverty and inequality", said Zikalala.

The Premier hopes that both teachers and learners will commence learning and teaching on day one.

"As the province of KwaZulu-Natal, we are more than ready for an academic year which promises positive results at the end of the year. We are inspired by the last year’s matric results which have shown a steady improvement from 66.4% in 2016 to 72.9% in 2017 to 76.2% in 2018 and a resounding 81.3% in 2019  - a remarkable improvement of 5.1% from 2018", said Premier Sihle Zikalala.

The Premier firmly believes that going back to school is a reason for celebration as it means a new step towards a brighter future.

As part of the KZN Provincial Government’s commitment to ensure a smooth start of the new school year, Premier Zikalala and his Provincial Executive Committee will crisscross the breath and length of the province on Wednesday to monitor whether schools are adequately prepared for the start of this academic year.

Basic functionality is the ability of the school to realise its educational and social goals and it focusses on establishing a disciplined and purposeful school environment and dealing with absence, lateness and truancy.

Twelve teams, consisting of members of the legislature and departmental officials, will visit 60 schools, armed with checklists to monitor educator attendance, learner attendance, delivery of learner support material, school nutrition, start of lessons and involvement of the school governing body.

All schools in the province are expected to begin learning and teaching in earnest on Wednesday as a prelude to achieving the Province’s goal to achieve even more better results this year. 

The KZN Provincial Government is also pleased with the education department’s in-depth plan of action of the province’s state of readiness to ensure that all schools in the province open smoothly on Wednesday and start providing quality teaching and learning from day one.

The Premier and his Provincial Executive Committee will visit various districts as their Champions to monitor school functionality and their programme is as follows:

*KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala:  Gamula JS School and Zombizwe High in Jozini in the Umkhanyakude.

*KZN Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu: Phembisizwe High and Siyathuthuka Secondary in Pinetown.

*KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube: Mthaniya Combined School and Inkosi Utatazela High in Uthukela.

*KZN Human Settlements and Public Works MEC Peggy Nkonyeni: Velangezwi High School and Macaphuna Secondary in Ilembe.

*KZN Finance MEC Ravi Pillay: Qoqisiswe High School and Mtholangqondo High School in Umgungundlovu.

*KZN Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi: Nzuza Secondary School and Zithume High School in King Cetshwayo.

*KZN Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli: Metzelfontein Combined and Ikhethelo High School in Zululand.

*KZN Health MEC Nomagugu-Simelane-Zulu: Thembalentsha High School and Mlondolozi High in Amajuba.

*KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sipho Hlomuka: Hlokozi High School and Kwathathani High School in Harry Gwala.

*KZN Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza: Dubandlela High and Fingqindlela Secondary Schools in Ugu.

*KZN Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation MEC Hlengiwe Mavimbela: Scelimfundo Combined and Ntalantala High Schools in Umzinyathi.

The schools functionality programmes begin at 7h30 sharp at all schools.

Issued by KZN Provincial Government