Unplaced learners a worry for education bosses
More than 1 400 learners in KwaZulu-Natal have still not been placed in schools, just one week before they are expected to be back in the classroom.
The figure was released during a media briefing by Basic Education Minister Angie Motsheka on Tuesday, who said that any delays in enrolling learners impacted teaching and learning.
“Traditionally, admissions take a year to process, but, invariably, we find that due to a variety of reasons, admissions spill over into the ensuing year,” she added. “We will continue to work with our provinces to ensure that we place all unplaced learners as a matter of urgency.
“We, however, implore parents and guardians to accept the schools in which their learners are placed. When schools have reached their maximum capacities, further admissions become impossible.”
Motsheka said the main reasons for learners not being placed included parents ignoring the published closing dates and people moving from rural communities to cities at the start of a new year.
Commenting on school infrastructure challenges, the minister revealed that 268 new schools had been built, while 44 buildings had been upgraded to replace inappropriate material.
A total of 115 schools still need proper water supply, however, and Motsheka was keen to stress that the department plans to provide them with this resource in the 2022/2023 financial year.
The issue of pit toilets remains a challenge. While 1 439 pit toilets have been replaced at schools in South Africa, a further 1423 schools still have to make use of them.