Gauteng school protests a cover-up

The deliberate targeting of Afrikaans schools by the Gauteng MEC for education is just a ploy to cover up the poor planning and mismanagement of the Gauteng education department (GED).

It failed to build more schools, to reinstate township schools, and to convince black parents to send their children to the few remaining township schools.

Opening a R97 million or R128 million school does not necessarily mean the pupils will be getting “quality education” if not manned by well qualified, well trained, dedicated teachers and principals.

Nevertheless, could the MEC at least notify the principal and governing body of the next targeted Afrikaans school of his intentions,

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at least six months before the proposed date of change over, and not one day as in the case of Overvaal High.

This will give the GED time to erect the 10-12 new classrooms, the extra toilets, and to supply the desks, chairs and textbooks needed, as well as appointing the extra 10-12 new teachers needed.

He surely cannot expect one teacher to teach all nine subjects, especially if the newcomers are in different grades. Mr Lesufi must know that teachers at high schools specialise in their chosen subjects.

It will also give the principal time to reorganise his/her school, as well as the daunting timetable. Having not taught at all, the MEC has no idea of the organisation that takes place in a school.

It will also eliminate the presence of the unemployed thugs who protest at these venues, in organising themselves with the usual racist chants such as “One bullet, een boere kind”, struggle songs, threats and intimidation.

John

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