Some 93 000 Grade 1s and 98 000 Grade 8s were among the 1.2 million pupils who started the new school year at public schools in the province on Wednesday. Pictured are Rosmead Central Primary School Grade R pupils, from left, Seth Charare with his mother, Tabeth Charare; Kwenza Kume with his mother, Nomsindisi Kume; and Asiphile Banabas with his mother, Zikhona Banabas.