Close schools, urge parents

While many parents have protested against the education department closing down small schools in their area, in Sada, Whittlesea it is the opposite.

Parents want the department to close down two high schools. Sada once had five high schools – Mhlotshana, Sijongephambili, Khanya, Zolani and Nompumelelo – but because of a dwindling number of pupils Mhlotshana was merged with Zolani and Sijongephambili with Nompumelelo, and now the township has three.

But now concerned parents have called on Zwelitsha to close down another two.

Speaking on behalf of the parents, Malibongwe Xhelisilo said that all three schools were short of teachers and there was an ever-decreasing number of pupils. “We have approached the department to sell our idea and they have shown interest.

“All the primaries in the township will be feeder schools to this high school.

“We are prepared to work with the department in ensuring this is achieved,” he said.

Having one high school in the area would address the teacher shortage problem, he said.

“We have children in Zolani who have not been taught since January in some subjects.

“As the parents we want to meet the department halfway by coming with a solution to their problem,” he said.

At the rate at which the pupils are dropping out of school, the parents fear that in three years there might be no operational high schools if the department does not close down two of them.

They fear that should the teacher shortage continue to haunt the schools, pupils would have to attend high school in Dongwe township about 4km away.

“Parents will not be able to pay for transport because of the high unemployment rate,” Xhelisilo said.

Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said: “We appreciate the idea. Where community members take a stance to advance the education of their children, from here we will engage with this community and help advance their plea so that it reaches the desired results.”