Mamosa educational Institute’s long battle with the department turns for the worse

Duduza – The combined school, Mamosa Educational Institute, was forced to shut down its FET phase by the Department of Education.
Following the school’s long battle to get accreditation from UMALUSI, the department resorted to forcing the school to remove its Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners.
Seven matric learners, eight Grade 11s and 13 Grade 10 learners have since been placed in a boarding school in the Vaal.
The institution has been operating since 2016 after it was registered in 2015, offering classes from Grade R to Nine until 2018 when they introduced their first Grade 10 class.
In 2020 the school had its first matric class though they had not yet been approved by UMALUSI, meaning they could not administer exams.
The school principal and founder Mamsi Mashinini-Ndlalani said the school has been sidelined by the department for some time now.

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“UMALUSI states that in the process where a school is still undergoing accreditation, the district must provide for concession.
“However I was informed by the district that it will not be giving me a concession as it alleges that it has no authority to do so – which is contradictory.
“When we first introduced our Grade 10 class I approached the district for assistance with the curriculum but was informed that only subsidy private schools are eligible for such services,” she said.
Shortly after the learners were removed the school received its green status from UMALUSI for 2023.
Last year the school also faced challenges with their matric class as they had not yet received their green status at the time and alleged the department still refused to grant them a concession.
This resulted in learners being placed in other local schools.
“Our venue was approved in September and we were awaiting the final stages of evaluation to get our green status.
“During the process, I was told I could hold exams with the concession but that did not happen.
“I just do not understand why my school was refused concession while other private schools get it.
“When I asked to have my learners placed at designated centres to write their exams, the district refused to help and cited that they had no authority to do so,” added Ndlalani.
According to the school, the agreement before the removal of the learners was that only the matric class would be moved as at the time they were still waiting for their accreditation.
“On May 14, the announcement was made to us that the entire FET phase would be removed, which came as a shock because that was not what we had agreed on.
“What hurts the most is why take our learners during the year and boarding schools are expensive,” she explained.
One parent, Lindiwe Mashinin said she was terrified for her child.

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“My child has never been away from home for so long – especially to a place we don’t even know and a school that was not chosen by us.
“He went there with a heavy heart and because we were not given much of a choice,” she explained.
The spokesperson of the Gauteng Department of Education, Steve Mabona, said the department can confirm that the school was not supposed to have a FET phase as it is not accredited by Umalusi.
Some Grade 10 learners will be placed at Alra Park Secondary School and Geluksdal.
“According to our database, the school is registered with the department and is operational. It must be noted that the school did not meet the requirement of being an examination centre. “Compliance documents such as health and safety certificates are not valid, a strong room not available and the floor plan is not showing the existence of classrooms.
“Four educators out of nine do not have valid SACE certificates and the address of the school is not indicated on the zoning certificate.
“It is a high risk for learners to grant a concession to the school as an examination centre and examination unit, hence the learners were removed and placed to schools that are compliant in this regard,” he said.
The department also concluded that they will continue to monitor the situation.

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