By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe & Kopano Dibakwane
The Mpumalanga Department of Education officially launched the 2026 Back to School Campaign, calling on all stakeholders to work together to ensure a successful school year.
The campaign was launched by Mpumalanga MEC for Education, Lindi Masina, on Tuesday 5 January 2025 at Mathupa Primary School in Marite, under the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, with the theme “Rhandza Xikolo Xa Wena” (Love Your School).
In her keynote address, MEC Masina emphasised the importance of school readiness and infrastructure development, while also urging SGBs(School Governing Bodies )to ensure that schools are clean, well-maintained, and ready for learning and teaching on the first day of the academic year on 14 January 2026.
“Parents, traditional leaders, faith-based structures, business partners and civil society are cordially invited to play an active role in assisting education to thrive in our province,” said Masina.
Masina said the Department has made significant progress in improving school infrastructure, with 77 schools completed and handed over for use in the 2025 calendar year.
Additionally, 130 mobile classrooms have been reportedly procured to address overcrowding and storm-damaged infrastructure.
According to Masina, the Department has initiated learner admissions for the 2026 school year, with a total of 1.03 million learners expected to be enrolled.
While some districts have completed admissions, others are reportedly still processing applications, particularly in fast-growing towns like Mbombela, Emalahleni, Mashishing and Secunda.
The MEC said the Department has established a Provincial Admission Committee to facilitate and process admission enquiries, and help desks have been set up to assist with placement queries and appeals. She revealed that a total of 9826 learners are yet to be placed in the different districts of Mpumalanga; Ehlanzeni(2195), Bohlabela(269), Gert Sibande(3917), and Nkangala(3714).
“Our message is clear: every child of school-going age must be admitted, and no learner must be left outside the classroom,” MEC Masina emphasised.
The MEC said the Department is committed to providing quality education, with a focus on learning and teaching support materials.
The Department has reportedly delivered stationery to all schools and is working to ensure that textbooks are issued to learners before teaching begins.
Masina said LTSM(Learning and Teaching Study Material) for ECD(Early Childhood Development), reading initiatives, Maths, Science and Technology, and Special Schools continue to be rolled out.
“Learning and Teaching Support Materials remain one of our most critical priorities because quality learning cannot take place without the necessary resources.
“ The Department achieved 95% textbook coverage in 2024, with additional top-up books delivered for Grade 4 to 11 in April 2025, and Full Grade 12 textbook provision completed in July 2024. Grade 10 and 11 support material are also aligned, including leaner tablets planned for the 2026 academic year,” MEC Masina said.
Other topics covered by the MEC during her speech included the 32,103 educator posts which have been approved for the 2026 academic a year, new learner furniture procured and delivered to 342 schools which will benefit 20,310 learners, the continuation of the national learner nutrition programme set to benefit all learners in quintile 1 to 3 from the first day of school, as well the scholar transport programme which will benefit 67,221 learners.
The launch was also attended by guests including the Executive Mayor of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Lydia Moroane-Zitha, Provincial Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders, Kgoši Lameck Mokoena, SBG and staff members of Mathupa Primary School, Old Mutual Regional Manager, Maxwell Dlamini, community members, to name but a few.
