‘School must plan better’, say angry learners
Sukumani Kundani High School Gr 12 learners were embroiled in protest action, raising their concerns about the lack of a physical science teacher at the school in Gogobole outside Louis Trichardt.
LIMPOPO – This after the Education Department failed to replace the teacher, who was transferred to teach at another school.
One of the learners who spoke on condition of anonymity said they decided to abandon their classes to force the department to heed their plight.
“We are not happy that the department failed to come and address this issue with us. They do not care that we do not have teachers. Our school target for this year is more than 90 percent, but how can we reach that pass rate if we do not have teacher?” she asked furiously.
“We need this issue to be resolved immediately as we are missing classes,” she said, adding that she worries about her chances of scoring A’s in all her subjects, which will enable her to enrol at a university.
“One of the most important rights is the right to education for every child, and I feel that important right is being ignored, overlooked or simply forgotten. This matter has dragged on for too long with no interim solution proposed by the department. We will suffer the most, not them,” she added.
The Spokesperson for Education, Dr Naledzani Rasila, said the principal and his management are the ones failing the school.
He said management is supposed to plan ahead as the transferred teacher was not a permanent employee but was hired on a temporary basis.
Rasila added that the school has two extra teachers that can fill in the position but they choose not to do that, thus giving us a poor name.
“I suggest management meets with the School Governing Body and devise a plan going forward,” he concluded.