Grade 1 parent frustration continues as schools around Ermelo have no space

New grade 1 learners and their parents woke up excited to began their school career on Wednesday, 9 January.

However, on the other side of the coin, one parent and his child woke up with no school to go to because primary schools around Ermelo town were full with no space for the little boy.

As previously reported by the Highvelder, ‘Grade 1 parents frustrated as their children put on waiting list in schools around town’, 30 November 2018, parents of prospective grade 1 learners were at their wits end having trouble finding schools for their children due to the lack of space with their children placed on waiting lists last year.

According to one parent, his child who was in grade R, had been on a waiting list for the grade 1 class of 2019 even though he had applied in the designated registration window period during the months of May to July 2018.

The parent added that he had received no feedback from the two schools he had applied to.

He did however receive an SMS from one school telling him his child is on the waiting list.

At the time, the Department of Education (DoE) had said it was aware of the challenges relating to the admission of some learners in Ermelo.

The spokesperson, Mr Jasper Zwane, said a team had been established to work with principals of the schools in town to fast-track the process of admitting learners and appealed to parents to be patient.

By Friday, 11 January, the parent, who asked not be named, and his child still had no school, three days into the new school year.

The Highvelder contacted the DoE regarding the situation of the parent and the department once again admitted to a serious challenge in getting the children in local schools.

The department mentioned it is in the process of erecting extra classes at two schools in Ermelo town so there could be classes for grade 1 learners on waiting lists in Ermelo.

By Monday, 13 January, the above-mentioned parent and his child were yet to be placed in a school, but had been in back and forth contact with the department in getting the child in a school.

His situation begs the question of how many parents are scrambling to find schools for their little ones. This is no isolated incident with such challenges arising every year during the beginning of the school year.

The department urged parents to register their children early, during the registration period, which is May to July, to avoid such a situation happening again.

“I applied in that window so I think the whole system should be re-evaluated and there should be more communication because as parents, we cannot leave it to the last minute to buy a uniform because we do not know where our children are going,” the parent said.

Parents of children who currently have no space at schools, are encouraged to contact the Gert Sibande District Department of Education offices situated at 2 De Jager Street.

The Highvelder has since learned the child of the above-mentioned parent, began school on Tuesday, 15 January.