KZN arts and culture MEC and Ilembe district champion Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha gave Ilembe schools the go-ahead for a successful school year, yesterday.

Sibhidla-Saphetha visited the area with mayor Welcome Mdabe as part of province’s opening functionality monitoring programme.

She said although some schools began their classes late because of the late registration of pupils, she was pleased that learning began on the first day.

Her visit began at Shakaskraal Secondary School in KwaDukuza which obtained over 80% matric pass rate in 2013.

“Apart from the late registration at the Chief Albert Luthuli High School (in Groutville) and the late coming of some pupils who live in far flung areas, it was all systems go in Ilembe. We also commend the education department in the province for ensuring learning material arrives on time in all schools in the district,” she said.

She appealed to parents to ensure pupils arrive on time at school and to stick to registration dates.

The MEC’s visit ended at Madlanga High School in Mandeni which got a 21% matric pass rate last year.

She will meet with education stakeholders today to discuss ways of assisting struggling schools in the area.