Parents blockade school over transport problem
Irate parents barred teachers and children from entering the Rocklands Intermediate Farm School yesterday, saying the transport programme had once again failed the pupils.
The parents camped outside the school — the only secondary institution in the area.
Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima announced an urgent meeting scheduled for last night with all stakeholders to address the current issues.
Linda Masiba, representing the group of displeased parents, said: “We told the kids to go home and we [blocked] the gates, telling the teachers and school staff to go to the education department.
“Our kids are coming from far away.
“How is it that there is no transport for them?”
Masiba said there were more than 1,800 pupils at the school.
“It’s a lot of kids and about 400 of those are dependent on this transport programme,” she said.
“The school can’t just continue with its operations as normal if some kids can’t get to school and back.
“This is nonsense and unacceptable.”
Masiba vowed that parents would continue to camp outside the school until the matter was resolved.
“Tomorrow [today] we’ll be here, on Friday we’ll be here, and we’ll be here for as long as this problem persists,” she said.
“We don’t have any other high school in the area.
“This is not Motherwell where everything is close to each other.
“Nothing is within walking distance [here].”
Mtima said yesterday: “A meeting will take place [last] night where the transport issues will be addressed.
“We are only a beneficiary of this school transport programme.
“Our main priority is to provide learners with quality education.”
Mtima said the department would provide extra lessons and support to children who were falling behind on their school work due to the ongoing transport woes.
The school’s problem is not isolated, as thousands of pupils across the province face the same reality.
Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said due to budgetary constraints the provincial government was left with no choice but to review and readjust the number of pupils who benefited from scholar transport.
“We understand the frustration of the parents and we also acknowledge the plight of the learners.
“Unfortunately, as a result, some pupils were left out of the system.
“We have seen the effects of the implementation of the policy we are following and as a result the provincial government is in discussion again to relook at the impact of the decision that was taken to see if we can’t find alternative means for those pupils who now find themselves out of the scholar transport system,” Binqose said.
“We are still looking at those options and will go public with them as soon as a decision has been taken.”
Last week, hundreds of irate pupils and parents blocked roads after about 600 pupils were left behind due to transport constraints.
Deputy mayor Babalwa Lobishe, municipal officials and SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) leaders addressed protesters in Kuyga and Wells Estate, promising a temporary resolution to the impasse.