Siviwe Gwarube Conducts Back-to-School Oversight Visit in North West

During the visit, the Minister actively supported the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) by assisting in the school kitchen and serving learners a warm, nutritious breakfast.

 

South Africa’s Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, on Wednesday undertook a back-to-school oversight visit to schools in Lethlabile, North West Province, as part of the Department of Basic Education’s Back to School Programme for the 2026 academic year.

The visit formed part of government efforts to officially welcome learners back to school, assess institutional readiness, and reaffirm the department’s commitment to quality teaching and learning across the education system.

Assessing School Readiness

Minister Gwarube conducted monitoring visits at three educational institutions, engaging with learners, educators and school leadership to evaluate preparedness for the new academic year.

Her first stop was Tshenolo Primary School, where she welcomed learners at the start of the term and interacted with them to create an atmosphere of encouragement and motivation.

Supporting Learner Well-being

During the visit, the Minister actively supported the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) by assisting in the school kitchen and serving learners a warm, nutritious breakfast.

The Department of Basic Education said the gesture highlighted the importance of nutrition in learning, noting that “no learner can learn effectively on an empty stomach,” and reaffirmed that learner well-being remains a cornerstone of academic success.

Promoting Early Literacy

Minister Gwarube also visited the Grade R classroom, where she distributed Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM) and participated in a reading session with learners. The engagement aimed to promote early literacy and foster a love of learning from a young age.

Encouraging the Class of 2026

The Minister later proceeded to Eletsa Secondary School, accompanied by the North West MEC for Education, Viola Ntsetsao Motsumi. Addressing the Class of 2026, the leaders encouraged learners to remain focused, disciplined and confident as they prepare for their final year of schooling.

Focus on Early Childhood Development

The oversight visit concluded at Itumeleng Crèche, where the Minister and MEC engaged with young learners during a reading session and observed play-based learning activities. The visit underscored the critical role of early childhood development in laying strong foundations for lifelong learning.

The back-to-school visit reinforced the Department of Basic Education’s emphasis on school readiness, learner support, nutrition and early education as key pillars of the education system in 2026.