Today was the beginning of a new chapter for many learners at schools across the country. Learners embarked on different stages of their schooling careers, from nursery school, primary school, and through to high school entrance.
For Grade 1 learners, it is the beginning of an educational journey. A bumpy journey that will come with tears of joy and tears of sorrow, but most of all it is a journey worth travelling as it sets to pave a bright future for all of them.
Full of joy and excitement, the little ones were looking forward to entering “the big school”, making new friends, and meeting new teachers.
While most of them were anxious, parents say they are very happy and proud of their children for making it this far.
Gontse Mampane, a mother of two girls from Pretoria in Gauteng, expressed that it is a good day to celebrate her daughter, Oresiametse’s birthday.
“I am a little nervous for her because she is starting a new school and it’s a completely new environment, said Mampane.
Oresiametse says she wants to be a doctor and a ballet dancer when she grows up. She says she is very excited to celebrate her birthday on her first day of school.
“I am looking forward to meeting new friends and new teachers,” she said.
Leigh-Ann Carey from Johannesburg in Gauteng is shocked at how quickly time went by. She says she is also very excited about her daughter Amandla starting school this year, but also very emotional at the same time.
“I hope she enjoys her schooling journey and has lots of fun, Carey said.
Amandla says she is happy to be in Grade 1. She says she also wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
For the emotional Mathabo Rasengane from Bloemfontein in the Free State, it is a proud moment because her son Rotenda is her last born. She says she is excited to finally see her baby in school uniform.
“I am looking forward to seeing him receive awards and participate in sporting activities and just hearing him read books,” she said.
Rotenda told his mother that he wants to be a Secret Agent for agents such as the Central Intelligence Agency, (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). He says he is happy because he now can play with his new friends.
Mapuleng Lebeko, also from Bloemfontein, had mixed feelings about today because her baby is not that small girl anymore. She says she had a heart-to-heart conversation with her daughter, Olesego, about challenges that she will face and come across in a big school. She added that she has also discussed the issue of bullying, respecting others and being responsible at all times with her daughter.
“I am setting her free to enjoy life to the fullest. “I am now sending her out to the world, and I am looking forward to seeing her become a responsible citizen of the country. “From today she represents the formal schooling system of South Africa. “She is now officially part of the basic education in South Africa, Lebeko expressed.
