Gauteng to expand grade R to public schools

Johannesburg – Tabling the first Gauteng Education budget of the 6th administration, MEC Panyaza Lesufi said the department will expand Grade R to all public primary schools, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

  He said the programmes are now more focused to ensure every pupil is adequately equipped with skills required for the changing economy. “The commitment is to support young people throughout their schooling life and ensure a smooth transition to post-schooling opportunities. The department will focus on quality education and developing the creativity of Gauteng’s young and working people by building their skills. Skills development among our youth is critical to the eradication of poverty and inequality,” Lesufi said.

  He added that private Grade R sites will be registered through the introduction of provincial regulations. “The Gauteng province is currently at 92% achievement of the target to universalisation of Grade R access, based on the target of 160 000 learners by 2019. The Grade R curricula will also improve the quality of Grade R programmes, with a focus on literacy and numeracy acquisition. We are working with NGOs and the private sector to develop an intervention to train Grade R practitioners in the teaching of language acquisition and mathematical concepts,” he said.