WC's Maynier urges parents of unplaced pupils to be patient as new academic gets underway

CAPE TOWN - Millions of pupils returned to school in the Western Cape on Wednesday.

Eyewitness News visited Westcott Primary School in Diep River.

Provincial Education MEC David Maynier was also at the school to welcome pupils at they headed back to the classrooms.

MEC Maynier said that even though 98% of grade 1 and grade 8 learners had been placed at schools, they were still experiencing some challenges. 
 
He said that despite the R700 million budget shortfall, they'd pulled out all the stops to deal with the high number of pupils who had not been placed yet.
 
"Contractors stepped up and they worked through the summer holiday, the builders’ holiday, and we have in fact put up 10 new schools, including one junior high school, which we built in just 77 days."

Maynier is urging parents to be patient as they try to find places for their kids.