Disciplinary measures against schools that refuse to enroll students

“Disciplinary measures have been taken against school principals who refuse to enroll students,” said Steve Rudge who works at the Department for Inspection at Secondary Education for Juniors (VOJ). Rudge explained that reports indicated that principals at VOJ schools are telling parents that there is no more room to enroll students. Some of the principals claim that they have enrolled 15 new students but when the inspectors check the lists, they conclude that only 10 students have been enrolled. Rudge explained that when a school has divided the students in two groups and if there are more students, the school must enroll the additional students before dividing the class in 3 groups. The refusal to enroll students who are still of compulsory school age is in violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The inspectors had a busy week last week because many students had not found a spot as a result of the schools’ refusal to enroll them. The Education director intervened by sending a letter to the principals last weekend. In her letter the Education director made it clear to all the principals that they had to enroll all students. Rudge pointed out that especially students from the hinterland were being turned away because they had not received the results of their state exam on time. These students were told that the schools had no more room for them. “Children from the hinterland must be given a fair opportunity to continue their education.”