Parents ‘close’ preschool at Othandweni Primary
SIPHOFANENI – High school fees and the unavailability of classrooms for early childhood development are a headache for parents at Othandweni, outside Siphofaneni.
As a result, some parents prefer not to take their children to preschools, but wait until they have reached the age to qualify for Grade 0.
Grade 0 is a reception year for pu pils before embarking on Grade I. It focuses on basic skills, such as reading, writing and arithmetic, and the development of language skills. Meanwhile, a preschool takes pupils from as young as three years old and, though their operations lean more towards day care centre, some of the pupils in preschool still learn to speak.
The beleaguered parents felt that taking their children to both preschool and Grade 0 was a waste of money.
Admission
As a result, they resolved to stop the enrolment of children in preschool lev el at the local (vangelical Othandweni Primary School. This was after they alleged that the school administration said there were not enough classrooms to cater for both preschool and Grade 0. For some time now, the (vangelical Othandweni Primary School was said to be operating both the preschool and Grade 0.
According to some parents, a former head teacher started the preschool within the premises of the school before Grade 0 was introduced. The parents told this publication that the preschool operated for over three years. Children between the ages of three and four were admitted to the preschool.
The parents said soon after the intro duction of Grade 0, parents no longer saw the need to enrol their children at the preschool.
The shortage of classrooms is said to have prompted a misunderstanding between the school administration and parents. This is because the parents were later informed that they were responsible for funding the operations of the preschool. The parents are said to have opted to take their children to Grade 0. One of the parents said “We told the school management that we cannot fund the preschool, since we now have Grade 0.”
A meeting was convened on Febru ary , 0 4 to deliberate on the issue.
Another parent said since parents and school management failed to reach mutual agreement, a decision was taken to make parents vote whether the preschool should be phased out or funded by the parents. The outcome was that parents refused to fund the preschool, but opted for Grade 0.
After the meeting, Dumisani Smor den Simelane, Othandweni Primary School’s +ead Teacher, issued a letter on February , 0 4, informing parents not to bring their children to school for preschool anymore.
Another decision endorsing that stance was taken in the February , meeting.
Another issue raised at the meeting was that of the cost of teaching staff for preschool, which is a cost centre of the school. They also raised concerns about a teacher who had been hired to teach preschool, without their consent.
The parents felt it was wrong to hire someone outside the community, at the expense of some graduates who were sitting at home. “We have so many graduates in our community who are still Mobless. If there are Mob opportunities in the community, it is important to consider those living in that area.
According to the sources, children had been paying ( 00 per term at the time when the preschool operated at Othandweni Primary School’s prem ises. It was from this fund that the teacher was paid. The teacher refused to be interviewed, but referred this reporter to the school head teacher for comment. Some parents, who still valued preschool, took their children to a care point preschool and other alternative private preschools.
In an interview, the care point pre school teacher, who preferred to speak on anonymity, stated that their school, which was funded by a non govern mental organisation (NGO , only charged (100 per term.
Interest
The care point teacher said some parents had started showing inter est by enrolling their children at the preschool after the resolution of the meeting which stopped the enrolment of children within the school premises.
“We informed parents since last year that we are admitting children to the preschool. We are now seeing parents enrolling their children at the school,” she said.
“Uyitsatsephi lendzaba?” Oth andweni Primary School’s +ead teacher Simelane declined to discuss the reasons for stopping the preschool. +e said he had no comment on the matter.
“As a school, we do not have any comment on what you are asking. Where did you get that information from" Since you have the whole information, please go to the person who furnished you with it,” said the head teacher.