Latest news with #TangananiPrimarySchool
The South African
29-05-2025
- General
- The South African
New Diepsloot school opens after protests and delays
Tanganani Primary School in Diepsloot has officially opened its doors, marking a breakthrough for hundreds of children waiting for access to education. Teaching is underway after weeks of disruption caused by community protests and construction delays. Originally scheduled to open on 5 May, the new Diepsloot school's launch was delayed after residents protested for economic opportunities. The unrest affected both the construction progress and the appointment of teachers. The Gauteng Department of Education said these disruptions were beyond its control but quickly moved to limit the impact on learners. 'This measure ensured that academic activities continued while the recruitment of permanent educators proceeded according to the Department's Recruitment and Selection Policy,' said departmental spokesperson Steve Mabona. The hiring process concluded on 21 May, and the newly appointed educators are expected to report by 2 June. Tanganani Primary is one of two new schools in Diepsloot earmarked to address overcrowding in the fast-growing township. Earlier this month, the Department revealed that 285 learners in Diepsloot had not yet attended school this year, 206 of them in primary school. While Tanganani has delivered 18 functional classrooms, the second school is still under construction, and work on a third has not yet started. Despite the delays, the Department has confirmed that Tanganani Primary School is safe and operational. 'The school premises are secure, with appropriate fencing and lockable gates in place,' Mabona said. Temporary services, including mobile toilets, water tankers, and a generator delivered on 15 May, have been implemented to ensure the new Diepsloot school can function. A power kiosk was installed on 24 May, with complete electrical distribution expected by 27 May. The Department has launched academic support initiatives to recover lost teaching time in the new Diepsloot school, including assessments, remedial lessons, and peer-supported learning sessions. 'These include baseline assessments conducted between 12 and 16 May 2025, followed by the development of customised intervention plans informed by diagnostic results,' said Mabona. A mid-year academic review is set for 31 July, to reintegrate learners into the entire curriculum by Term 4. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
GDE scrambles to fix curriculum chaos at school after delays
A mid-year review is set for 31 July to assess progress and ensure all pupils are fully integrated into the standard curriculum by term 4. The Gauteng department of education on Wednesday confirmed that curriculum delivery is back on track at Tanganani Primary School in Diepsloot after a delayed start to the 2025 academic year caused by community disruptions. Learning and teaching only began on 12 May, despite the satellite school being scheduled to open on 5 May. According to the department, the delay stemmed from 'demands for economic beneficiation' in the community, which were 'beyond the control of the department'. Subject advisors deployed to avoid academic disruptions To ensure that teaching was not completely halted during the delay, the department deployed office-based subject advisors as interim teachers. 'This measure ensured that academic activities continued while the recruitment of permanent teachers proceeded,' the department said. Interviews for full-time teaching posts were finalised on 21 May, and those appointed are expected to report for duty on 2 June. In addition, the department plans to advertise three more posts to strengthen teaching capacity. ALSO READ: KZN Education welcomes arrest of alleged serial school rapist Catch-up programme in motion To compensate for lost teaching time, the department has launched a range of targeted catch-up initiatives. Baseline assessments were conducted between 12 and 16 May, with intervention programmes starting on 23 May. 'Remedial teaching and peer-supported learning sessions will continue until 30 September, 2025,' the department stated. A mid-year review is set for 31 July to assess progress and ensure all pupils are fully integrated into the standard curriculum by term 4. ALSO READ: Jobs for cash, missing millions and fire chaos: Gauteng education responds to school scandals Facilities in place despite initial construction delays The department confirmed that 18 classrooms have been delivered and are fully functional. The premises are secured with fencing and lockable gates, and there are flushing mobile toilets. Water tankers have also been provided to ensure a consistent supply. 'To provide temporary electricity, a generator was delivered on 15 May. A kiosk was installed on 24 May, with full power distribution expected by 27 May,' the department said. ALSO READ: More issues at GDE: Principal probe, school fires, and budget tug-of-war unpacked Funding for quintile 5 schools Meanwhile, it also announced it had allocated R671 million to quintile 5 schools in Gauteng for the 2024-25 financial year. Fee-paying Quintile 4 and 5 schools received R838 per pupil, while no-fee-paying schools in the same quintiles received R1 672 per pupil. Afrikaans-medium quintile 5 schools received R75.5 million, benefiting 103 schools across the province. The department reaffirmed its commitment to 'delivering quality education and ensuring that all students, regardless of their geographical or socio-economic background, have access to safe, supportive, and well-resourced learning environments'. NOW READ: Snakes and poor conditions for learning: Parents fear for their children's lives at Gauteng school
