POLOKWANE – Parents are relieved that the situation at Westenburg Secondary School is improving.
This follows the intervention of the department of education following the chaos in August when the school gates were locked by outraged parents due to various issues including a shortage of teachers, certain lessons not being given in Afrikaans, and utility bills being in arrears, causing the electricity, water and telephone to be disconnected.
Two Afrikaans teachers were appointed and started the beginning of this term. Another two Afrikaans teachers will be appointed when schools open next year.
Philip Buys has been appointed as the business studies teacher, while Joe Williams teaches Afrikaans. Parents who Review spoke to said they were very happy about this. Dinah Claasen said there was a visible change at the school. “We as parents are very grateful and happy. The children are at school and don’t walk around the streets during school hours. It’s going so well that the children even have class on a Saturday and sometimes on a Sunday to ensure they are ready for the exams,” Claasen said.
Esterline Niekerk said it was clear that after the teachers were appointed the children started working because they now received homework, which they never had in the past.
Eugene Lyle, chairperson of the school governing body, said matters were looking better at the school. “The teachers are working hard to catch up. Our utilities are back on. There are still a few things we need to sort out like the waterpipes and sanitation, but we are positive that all will work out. We are working well with the department,” Lyle said.
