Confusion reigned on Monday August 2 as primary schools reopened their doors to welcome back learners to scheduling of five days a week.

Many parents and some schools were of the view, however, that normal schooling would only be back in September once most of the population have been vaccinated.

Some parents also raised concerns about limited infrastructure, such as the lack of water tanks and sanitation at a number of schools, and the fact that their children had not yet been vaccinated.

Overcrowding in some of the schools was also in the spotlight, especially in deep rural areas such as Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge, Mkhondo and Siyabuswa.

READ: Community divided over schools reopening

During his visit to the eMalahleni-based Edward Matjeka Primary School on Monday, the provincial MEC for education, Bonakele Majuba, acknowledged the fact that there were some challenges here and  there in some schools, but assured that his department was working around the clock resolve these.

“There might be some overcrowding, but we are negotiating with churches, community halls and other big facilities near those overcrowded schools, so that we will be able to accommodate those learners in those buildings,” he said.

“But so far we can boldly say things are going smoothly, and where there are challenges, we believe that by this Friday, August 6, we shall have the complete picture of what really is happening on the ground,” continued Majuba.

He visited this school as part of his monitoring the state of readiness of all primary schools in the province as they welcomed back learners on a full-time basis. Last week, Majuba visited four schools at which he voiced his satisfaction.

“We are quite happy with the way things are unfolding, because we can see that all the necessary Covid-19 essentials are in place and the children are back in class and look excited to be there,” he said.