Education officials locked in school hall

TWO Western Cape Education Department staff members were locked in a school hall for several hours by disgruntled parents at Barrydale High School.

Parents, who demanded three additional teachers to alleviate overcrowded classes, kept their children at home yesterday and went to the school where they demanded to speak to senior department officials. The group of about 100 parents locked the two department officials in the hall.

School governing body member Amanda Swart said teachers and pupils were struggling to cope.

“The classrooms are overcrowded and the parents decided to keep the children at home. The parents are at the school.”

She said they had locked up the officials as promises were made but not kept.

“We are in the hall. We locked the gates as well. We want some answers.”

Swart, an ANC ward councillor who was guardian to her nephew in Grade 5, said there were 14 teachers and 510 pupils at the school which enrolled pupils from Grades R to 12. She said the senior grades were particularly under pressure with the number of pupils in each grade ranging from 42 in Grade 12 to 87 in Grade 10.

“For us it is a great problem. It affects the teachers. They can’t stand it any more, they will collapse.”

Swart said an added concern was that senior teachers may choose to retire or resign. She said this had been a problem for some time and had contributed to a decreased matric pass rate last year.

The matric pass rate at the school had been 81.8 percent last year, down from 96 percent in 2012 and 88.2 percent in 2011.

Paddy Attwell, spokesman for the department, confirmed that parents had not allowed the officials to leave the Overberg school. The parents had demanded to meet with district director Bertram Loriston, he said.

“The officials visited the school to discuss issues with about 100 parents who indicated that classes at the school are overcrowded. The director was not available and arranged to meet the parents on Thursday morning.”

Attwell said the parents had told the officials they would keep their children at home until the department had approved three additional teachers’ posts.

He said the principal, Roy Auret, had submitted a request for the extra posts last Friday.

“The district office has recommended one extra post for the foundation phase that would bring the teacher-tolearner ratio in line with provincial norms of 35 learners per teacher in primary schools and 36 in high schools.”

Attwell said parents had also demanded transport for 15 additional pupils.

“The department is processing an application from the school for transport for these learners.”

The Cape Times unable to contact Auret.

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