Another bumpy start to academic year at north high school

The beginning of the academic year at Hoërskool Akasia, north of Pretoria, was marred by yet another bumpy start on Wednesday morning.

This as a group of aggrieved parents once again descended on the high school’s gate demanding that their children be placed at the school.

Over the past three years, parents – some alongside their children – have visited the school in a bid to have their children placed there saying it was closest to where they resided.

Many of the parents were unhappy that their children were unable to get placement at the school as learners from neighbouring areas which were further away, such as Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve, were admitted.

One such parent who would not be named said she stayed 1,9km away from the school, but her child was placed at a school in the west of Pretoria.

“Learners from Ga-Rankuwa, from Soshanguve they are the ones who are here. Actually, we must have operation clean-up,” the aggrieved mother said.

She questioned why her child had to travel to the west of Pretoria when she stayed such a short distance from the school.

Addressing parents, a representative of the school, who was reluctant to speak directly to the media, said the school was full.

“With regards to the rest of the grade 8 applications, we don’t have any instruction because we are full now – to capacity,” he said.

He, however, noted that they were waiting for grade 8 learners who were supposed to be at school on Wednesday, but have not arrived.

“That might also happen that there are open spaces already, but we will only be able to answer that at the end of the day when all of the educators come back to the staff room,” he said.

The school was also expected to afford these learners 10 days before the principal reported back to the district office over available spaces at the school.

“After 10 days the principal has to submit the number of learners that didn’t come to the district office. Then they will place them,” he said.

He also noted that only the district officials would be able to assist the aggrieved parents further if they were not satisfied with the feedback.

On Tuesday, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga admitted that there were still learners who needed to be placed in schools.

“At the moment, Gauteng is experiencing challenges in this regard and we appeal to parents and guardians to co-operate with the district officials to resolve any matter,” she said.

Motshekga said this as she briefed the media on the reopening of schools.

She further said that while admissions traditionally took a year to process, admissions sometimes spilled over into the ensuing year due to a variety of reasons.

“Delayed admissions impact teaching and learning. We will continue to work with our provinces to ensure that we place all unplaced learners as a matter of urgency,” she said.

Motshekga also implored parents and guardians to accept the schools at which their children were placed.

“When schools have reached their maximum capacities, further admissions become impossible,” she said.

In March 2021, through a written response to the Gauteng provincial legislature following questions posed by the DA’s Adriana Randall, education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said there was an identified need for two more high schools and two more primary schools in the Pretoria North area.

In the same response, Lesufi also noted that Hoërskool Akasia had no space to build additional classrooms.

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