Desperate parents queue for a second day

PARENTS and guardians are still queuing outside the Department of Education offices in Kimberley as they have not found school places for their children ahead of the new academic year that kicks off on Wednesday.

The desperate and frustrated parents had to return to stand in the hot sun on Tuesday as they said that the offices were closed due to load shedding on Monday.

Some parents stated that they were still awaiting SMSes and letters from the department, where schools would refuse admission if they were unable to produce confirmation of placement.

“We were sent from the provincial office to the district offices to the school and back to the district office, having to stand for hours in the long queues. We had to arrange leave in order to stand in the queues,” said the parents.

One parent stated that he had not purchased his child’s school uniform yet as he was still waiting for confirmation that his child had been accepted for Grade 1.

“Du Toitspan Primary School is situated far from where we are staying in Galeshewe. My first preference was West End Primary School as it is closer to home, but my child was not accepted there. I will have to pay extra for transport and if there is a parent-teacher meeting or if my son needs to attend extra-mural activities we will have to catch two taxis to travel to the school and two taxis back home.”

He added that he did not want his child to “attend school in the location” as the medium of education was Setswana, Xhosa or Sotho and he wanted his child to be taught in English.

“All the schools in Galeshewe are also full. I applied online in August but I am still waiting for confirmation and I am worried because my son can’t sit at home for the year.”

He recommended that the schools set up mobile classrooms and container classrooms in the meantime until placements could be sorted out.

A grandmother who was standing in the queue for a second day stated that she was still waiting to secure placement for her granddaughter who should be enrolled for Grade 8.

“I brought her back home from the North West as I want her to attend school in Kimberley, but it is more of a struggle trying to find a school for her here. I am not able to afford private schooling as I am a pensioner. My granddaughter lost both parents and I am taking care of her. I need to apply for a school fee exemption as I rely on a social grant and am not employed.”

She added that although the Department of Education had found a place for her granddaughter at Adamantia High School, she would not cope as classes were taught in Afrikaans.

Two other parents added that they had not received any updates after applying online for Grade 9 and Grade 8 admissions.

“We don’t know if the schools are full already. We applied for Pescod High School and Emmanuel High School. I relocated from Johannesburg to Kimberley and am looking for a school. It appears as if we won’t be getting much help.

“We came back today as both the provincial and district offices were closed due to load shedding on Monday. It seems as if preference is being given to foreign nationals, who are not even citizens of the country, while locally-based pupils are still waiting for placements.”

ActionSA provincial chairperson Andrew Louw added that every year frustrated parents were exposed to a repeat of long queues and overcrowded schools.

“According to information received, foreigners are paying bribes in order to secure placements.”

Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe stated that most of the parents queuing outside their offices were late applications.

“This is besides the 280 unplaced pupils that are reflected on our records. We believe that by Wednesday this figure would have decreased dramatically. The MEC for Education, Zolile Monakali, officials and representatives from the Northern Cape provincial legislature will conduct physical head counts at hot-spot schools on Wednesday,” said Van der Merwe.

He explained that an updated report would be compiled of all unplaced pupils and available places.

“An assessment will also be done on the impact of load shedding on schools, although learning and teaching should be able to continue. Load shedding will impact operations such as printing. Some schools have generators and inverters and water tanks, so it is not a one-size-fits-all situation.”

Van der Merwe added that admissions were made strictly according to set criteria, including where a pupil resided, whether another sibling was attending the school and the three school options chosen by the parent or guardian.

“The system cannot be manipulated or flawed so there is no truth to the rumours that preference is given to any pupil. The proper checks and balances are in place.”