Maitland school turns away asylum seeker’s child
AFTER seeking refuge in South Africa from his native Democratic Republic of Congo seven years ago, Chizo Makeka is being prevented from giving one of his daughters a better life after she was refused enrolment at a Maitland school.
He has had no problems enrolling his 8-year-old girl in Westport Primary School in Mitchells Plain, where he stayed before, but Koeberg Primary School has asked for extra documentation from him, before allowing his daughter access to the school.
She has not attended a day of school a week into the start of the new academic year.
The family moved to Maitland, which is why Makeka chose to approach Koegerg Primary School for a spot for his daughter.
“I wanted to send her to Koeberg because they have space for her and she missed a year school,” Makeka said.
However, the school refuses to accept the child because Makeka cannot produce an asylum seekers permit.
He told the Cape Argus that her previous school did not require the document.
While Makeka has applied for a renewal of his asylum seeker’s status, the Department of Home Affairs is dragging its heels, he said.
“I applied for the document one year ago and I am still waiting,” Makeka said.
The school told the Cape Argus that its hands are tied.
“We have a policy enforced by the WCED (Western Cape Education Department), where we ask for the necessary documentation from parents to enrol their child,” school principal Anwar Allie said.
Allie said approximately 70 percent of the pupil body is made up of refugees and they have space and are willing to accommodate Makeka’s daughter.
But advocacy group Equal Education said there were ways schools could accept foreign pupils without all the relevant documentation.
“Section 29(1)(a) guarantees everyone the right to a basic education, which includes (children) of asylum seekers living in South Africa,” the organisation’s Demichelle Petherbridge said.
“Currently, the Admission Policy for Ordinary Public Schools requires that learners who are non-citizens, and whose parents are in possession of the necessary permits for temporary or permanent residence, present birth certificates, proof of immunisation against certain diseases, transfer cards (where necessary), and the necessary study permits before being enrolled into a school.
“While parents are encouraged to comply with these procedural requirements, schools should exercise discretion in those instances in which parents have applied, and are still waiting, for the necessary documents from the Department of Home Affairs, and work with provincial departments to ensure that learners are not denied their right of access to a basic education, and that equal rights are afforded to foreign nationals.”
WCED spokeswoman Millicent Merten said: “In the absence of the required documentation, official proof that an application has been made to the Department of Home Affairs must accompany the application form for enrolment at a school.”