Lesufi ’ s method has failed

THIS year Gauteng MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi introduced an online application method for admission in the Gauteng schools, scrapping the traditional method.

The move was hailed by many, with some saying he is the future national education minister.

I was one of those few who cautioned against scrapping the traditional method, saying the traditional can work together with the online. I even highlighted that Western Cape was successfully using both. But who am I?

The other day I spoke to a parent who has applied online for his child. According to the online system, the child was accepted. However, when the parent went to that particular school, he was told his child was not accepted. The parent was then directed to the district offices.

A colleague of mine is also experiencing the same challenge. Like the above parent, he applied online for his kid and the application was accepted.

But when he went to the school where the kid was accepted, he was told the child was not accepted. Now he’s frustrated.

I’m sure there are other parents who face the same challenge. These poor parents are left on their own and are now running around like headless chickens searching for space for their kids.

Otherwise, their children will be without school come 2017.

What should parents who have been failed by the new system do? They should go to Lesufi’s office and demand an explanation. Not only that, they should also ask him to help them find places for their kids for next year. Thabile Mange By e-mail

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