Bhisho says everything on track for the new school year

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 The Eastern Cape Education Department says everything's on track for the opening of schools across the province.

Acting superintendent-general, Mthunywa Ngonzo, says books and stationery have already been delivered to schools.

He says plans are also in place to provide emergency classrooms at schools that have been affected by severe weather conditions.

Speaking to Algoa FM News a short while ago, Ngonzo said the issue of sufficient teachers in schools is also being addressed.

"You will remember that we had a declaration of 60 820 and that has lead to the termination of temporary educators by the 21st of December and we have since re-appointed 1 772 of them, and we are continuing to request if there is any child without a teacher they must come forward to that we can have an intervention" Ngonzo

Meanwhile, the Western Cape Education Department says around 970 000 learners will begin the 2013 school year.

Department spokesperson, Bronagh Casey, says they're also expecting around 100 000 learners to enter Grade One this year and approximately 80 000 in Grade 8.

She says the Western Cape Education Department is as close to ready as can be.