Unplaced learners: Parents protest
After two weeks of their children not being placed in schools, parents accompanied by members of the EFF on Tuesday evening staged a protest in Biccard Street outside the Department of Education’s offices.
The protest continued into the night. Parents whose children are yet to be placed - a situation that has recurred for at least the last eight years - continued to gather at the offices hoping for a way forward, but when the deputy director responsible for governance, Cairo Seima was unable to provide clarity on when learners would be placed, parents decided to protest.
Biccard Street between Excelsior and Hospital streets was barricaded from 14:00 and by 20:00 the road was still blocked.
EFF leader Jossey Buthane who was leading the crowd, emphasised that the matter was not an EFF one, but one that affected the community regardless of political affiliation.
“We have been patient with the department but when they send people to address us, they speak to us from a point of privilege with arrogance. We will not leave and we are willing to sleep here if necessary. We will only leave when the MEC has addressed us, or at least the HOD.”
Buthane and the group proceeded to park their vehicles at the four entrances to the department’s offices, blocking traffic, saying if they were not leaving then the department’s employees would not leave either.
Hours later Education HOD Onica
Dederen addressed the crowd and met with representatives of the concerned parents, where they established a joint team of parents and representatives of the department, spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene confirmed.
According to aggrieved parents, it is the online admission system of the department, which was introduced last year, that seems ineffective.
The system allows parents to apply for admission at their school of choice but a system crash saw many parents unable to register until the system was later restarted.
“When I initially tried to apply the system would kick me out. When I queried with the department I was told to be patient and that the matter was being attended to. When the system eventually allowed me in, I was still, however, able to apply for placement within the specified deadline.”
Chuene said the department noted that there are still learners especially in urban areas and hotspot areas such as Phalaborwa, Tzaneen, Lephalale and Polokwane who are also yet to be placed.
“These are applications to schools that are oversubscribed, schools of choice that
are not within the feeder zone which are full, and late applications in some instances. Our circuit offices have been advised to offer admission or space manually where still available. Parents whose applications to schools of choice were not successful are directed to seek placement at schools nearer to their place of residence. All of this is a work in progress and placements are made according to availability of space and not necessarily preference of parents.”
She says the department is conducting head counts in schools to determine if there is still space or not at schools that have reported to be oversubscribed.
“We are mindful of the frustration parents must be experiencing and the department is determined to conclude this process as soon as possible.”
Some parents are stuck after receiving employment in new cities over the festive season.
According to Chuene, space remains a challenge and this is what happens when most parents, even those outside feeder areas, opt for the same school.
The department is trying to finalise placements based on the current capacity but is not ruling out the possibility of using mobile classrooms, should a need arise and resources allow.
She says schools will continue with the same arrangements as they did when schools closed last year, including rotational timetables and Covid-19 protocol such as screening, sanitising and social distancing.
“Vaccination for children 12 and older are available and we urge parents to vaccinate their children to increase protection against Covid-19,” she said.
Parents who are still waiting for placement can visit their circuit offices or contact these officials:
1. Capricorn North: Mukoma AM (082 837 9698)
2. Capricorn South: Seima C (082 954 3666)
3. Waterberg: Masekela W (082 954 0142)
4. Mopani East: Skikhibana Z (082 954 0325)
5. Mopani West: Mabunda P (082 562 5445)
6. Sekhukhune East: Seema M (082 953 1576)
7. Sekhukhune South: Nape N (082 954 1688)
8. Vhembe East: Magugumela MJ (082
953 2831)
9. Vhembe West: Ravele NS (082 868 2663)
10. Mogalakwena: Kgosana L (071 476 0019)