The Western Cape Education Department is close to completing the rollout of 160 new classrooms for Grade R learners, due to be completed by the end of March 2009.
The department had already completed an extra 121 Grade R classes at public schools at the end of 2008, and this week started the rollout of the remaining 39 classrooms.
Provincial education MEC Yusuf Gabru started opening examples of the new classrooms officially in all eight education districts of the province at Masiphumelele Primary School in Khayelitsha and Sophakama Primary in Du Noon this week, with a further five scheduled to be opened by February 5.
The rollout is part of the department’s broader objective to provide universal access to Grade R to all 5/6-year old children in the province by the year 2010.
Under the plan, the WCED will provide funds for 4 000 additional Grade R learners per annum in public schools, and equip selected public primary schools with specially designed early childhood development kits.
The learning and teaching support material is specially designed to develop and improve the learners’ perceptual skills, gross and fine motor skills as well as literacy and numeracy skills. Grade R practitioners will receive training in the use of the equipment.