Parents are threatening to shut down Hartswater High School on Thursday as a group of 15 Grade 8 pupils have not received places in the English class.
PARENTS are threatening to close down Hartswater High School on Thursday as a group of 15 Grade 8 pupils have not received placements in the English class.
The parents stated that they would gather at the school gates at 6am on Thursday morning.
“While most of us want to resolve this matter amicably, there are a few radical individuals amongst us.”
Parents indicated that their children were upset that they had missed out on the excitement of starting the first day of the school year while their friends were already seated inside the classrooms.
“Their names were never called out and they were not allowed to enter the school hall. According to the school, there is nothing that they can do as their names do not appear on the list. We contacted the MEC for Education and two co-ordinators were sent to the school. However, they indicated that they were unable to make any decisions regarding placements. Parents were promised that someone would be present at the school on Thursday morning to provide some answers.”
The parents said that the pupils were added to a school WhatsApp group and were sent letters informing them of the rules and regulations of the school.
“They attended an orientation programme although when they arrived at the school dressed in their uniforms this morning, they were informed that their names do not appear on the list of the Department of Education.”
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said schooling in the Province generally got off to a “smooth start” for the 2023 academic year on Wednesday, although some challenges were reported in various districts.
“Members of the Executive Council, Members of the Provincial Legislature and Members of Parliament visited schools across the Province to monitor the reopening of schools,” said Van der Merwe.
He added that most challenges related to infrastructure needs at schools where work was either incomplete or additional school furniture was required because of an increase in pupil numbers.
“The department procured mobile classrooms last year for schools where a growth in learner numbers was anticipated. We are currently experiencing a delay in the delivery of school furniture to Kimberley Boys’ High School, which led to a delay in the return of Grade 8 learners. Currently, these Grade 8 learners are still at home and will only be able to return to school once the furniture has been delivered. We are monitoring the situation very closely and we do hope that the delivery will take place towards the end of this week.”
Van der Merwe added that they were in the process of appointing a contractor to repair storm damage at Brandvlei Primary School.
“The school appointed a contractor to remove the rubble and safeguard the school premises in order to conduct an assessment of the damage. We expect the contractor to be on site as from next week to start repairs, so that Grade 4 and Grade 6 learners can return to school.”
He indicated that the department was busy conducting a headcount of pupils in preferred schools in the Frances Baard District to determine the available school spaces.
“Our district office is working tirelessly to place the few outstanding learners towards the end of this week. However, the situation is aggravated by parents who haven’t timeously applied for schooling or who demand school spaces at preferred schools where capacity doesn’t exist.”
He pointed out that all pupils would be placed at a school where school spaces existed.
“The department will conduct a 10-day snapshot survey following the reopening of schools to address further needs that may arise during this period. The department will monitor the function of our schools closely and act immediately where our interventions are required.”
