Schools insist it is because of a lack of space
AKING William’s Town father says the school in his neighbourhood has rejected his daughter’s application three times, despite applying on time.
Zingisi Mfaxa said their home was 400m from Kingsridge High School (KHS) for Girls (which includes a junior school) and he could not understand why the school kept rejecting his daughter’s application.
Mfaxa said the school twice cited the unavailability of space but no explanation was given for this year’s rejection.
Mfaxa started trying to enrol his daughter in 2014 after the family moved to KWT from Gonubie.
“My wife accepted a job offer at Bhisho Hospital. We bought the house because it was near the schools we regarded ideal for our children – Dale College for our son and KHS for our daughter,” said Mfaxa.
“The first time we went to the school my daughter was six and we applied using the transfer route, but the application was unsuccessful. We applied in 2015 and 2016 and were rejected,” said Mfaxa.
His daughter, who is eight years old now, is enrolled at a private school, but is still at home this week.
“We haven’t sent her to school yet as we hoped her KHS application would have been successful this year.”
The Dispatch asked KHS for comment but was referred to the provincial department of education.
Education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima, said: “Parents need to understand that schools give priority to their feeder schools and if those pupils take up all the available space then the school will not be able to take more children.”
Meanwhile, Breidbach Primary outside KWT has been accused by parents of favouring children of the rich.
Angry Breidbach Education Action Committee (BEAC) members wrote a scathing letter to premier Phumulo Masualle accusing the no-fee school of breaking the SA Schools Act, which prohibits no-fee schools from charging registration fees.
Breidbach Primary principal Ivan Harry confirmed they were charging R200 per child for registration and a further R500 a year – which went into a “developmental fund” which paid for additional teaching staff.
BEAC called for an end to poor pupils being put at the back of the queue, while kids whose parents could pay were given places.
Pupils from feeder schools in Breidbach, Acorn Valley and Breidbach Plateau were being blocked, they claimed.
Secretary of the BEAC, Marlon May, said children were being placed on a “waiting list”, while vacant places were filled by children of parents with registration money.
BEAC also alleged that siblings of pupils with debts were also refused entry.
She said 40 children were turned away this week over outstanding fees or registration costs.
May said: “We want the school to pay back all the money they have been taking from parents because it is unconstitutional.”
Harry said they only turned away children because of a lack of space.
Kaylene Cummings, whose seven-year-old niece was turned away on Wednesday, said: “I saw parents signing cheque books and parents bringing food for teachers to register their children.”
Masualle’s spokeswoman Nonala Ndlovu said they would follow up the issues. — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za /arethal@dispatch.co.za