Angry parents wait at Department of Education in Secunda
The Department of Education could not give an answer on when more schools would be built.
Angry parents of learners made their voices heard at the circuit office of the Department of Education (DoE) in Secunda last week.
Some parents said they have battled since last March to find a spot for their children at some of the local high schools in Secunda and surrounding towns. However, most schools have reached capacity and cannot accommodate more learners.
It seems to be a growing problem because, in previous years, the Ridge Times received similar complaints from the community.
“I took my child to a high school last March, and they said the school was full and that they would put me on a waiting list,” said a mother.
“My daughter was in that school initially, then I took her out because we wanted to try a home-school centre, but it did not work out, and I wanted to put her back into that school because she still has the school uniform.
“Every time I go to the school, they just say the school is still full, and she is still on the waiting list.”
Some parents relocated from other towns to Secunda. They began enquiring at the schools last year but were also told the schools were full and they would go on a waiting list.
“What must I tell my son?” asked a father.
“He is now sitting at home every day, missing school and getting further and further behind.”
Another parent asked: “Do they want our children to become criminals because where will they find jobs one day if they cannot be educated and attend school?”
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Several times after these parents were told the circuit managers would address them, the managers did not show up and were allegedly in meetings.
Things got worse on February 9 when the parents began shouting at staff at the circuit office. At one stage, a policeman was seen outside the circuit office.
The Ridge Times asked the spokesperson of the DoE, Jasper Zwane, for comment and what these learners who cannot find a school should do because some are already a year behind now; what is the DoE doing to minimise this problem of not enough schools; if and when the department is going to build more schools; and where these schools will be situated once it builds more schools.
Zwane said: “Indeed, Secunda, like eMalahleni, Mbombela, and Steve Tshwane, are fast-growing towns and, as such, the schools are overcrowded.
“The DoE is making means to address the situation to ensure an enabling environment is created for learning and teaching.
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“Last year, Sasol donated about eight fully furnished mobile classes, which were distributed to various schools in Secunda as another way to address the issue of limited space.
“The department will, in the near future, add the capacity of infrastructure in Secunda.”
The DoE told the local schools to refer any questions from the newspaper to it. Therefore, the schools’ spokespeople could not answer any questions.
However, the Ridge Times gathered that some problems these schools face include insufficient bathrooms, classrooms and teachers to accommodate more learners.
The traffic is also a growing problem that comes with accommodating more learners.
