Community shuts Ntambanana school over vacant teacher post

ANGRY parents have disrupted learning at Mpephose Secondary School in Ntambanana, calling on the KZN Department of Education to fill a vacant English teacher post.

The parents, who gathered outside the school on Tuesday morning preventing pupils from entering, have vowed to keep the gates closed until the position is filled.

Pupils have not had an English teacher since the beginning of the academic year, and with a week to go before the final matric exams, parents say they are concerned what impact the lack of a n English teacher will mean for their final results.

‘We have knocked on every door and held meetings with local officials in the department, and after every meeting we were told a teacher would follow. Yet the school still has no teacher.

‘A community meeting was then held and it was decided we would have to close the school until the department takes action,’ said Sibusiso Luthuli, speaking on behalf of the disgruntled parents.

‘It is extremely unacceptable that a school can have no English teacher from Grade 8 right up to matric for an entire year.'

Luthuli said shutting down the school is their last attempt to help salvage the academic year for the pupils.

‘Whatever internal issues there may be, they should not be allowed to affect the future of the children.'

A Grade 12 pupil said the lack of an English teacher has taken its toll on learners who are now preparing for their final exams.

‘It has been tough not knowing whether we will be forced to repeat the grade because this is a crucial subject,’ said Silindokuhle Sibiya.

‘We have not been able to submit applications to secure spaces at university next year because our results are incomplete.

‘I hope to study supply chain management at the Tshwane University of

Technology, but now I don’t know if I will be able to because my English marks are at minus one,’ she said.

She pleaded with the department to intervene to save their academic year.

KZN education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said the department is aware of the vacant post at the school.

‘The district office is attending to the issue, and officials were also present at the school on Tuesday to resolve the matter,’ said Mahlambi.

He said while they are aware of the challenges the learners have experienced as a result of not having a teacher, there have been some interventions to ensure learning continues.