The office of the Department of Education in Secunda has been flooded with disgruntled and angry parents since schools opened this year.

According to these parents, they followed the correct procedures and have been trying since last year to register their children at several high schools in Secunda and surrounding towns.

“We were informed that online registrations were open from May to August last year, so we tried to register online, but in the end we had to go to the school,” said one parent.

“We were told the school was already full and that we would be placed on a waiting list.”

Parents are unhappy because they live in Secunda and cannot find space for their children, yet they see buses arriving from outside towns with learners who have been placed at schools in Secunda.

ALSO READ: School in Secunda runs adopt-a-cop programme

These parents tried to speak to a director at the department last week but were told he was in Ermelo and that they should return another day.

Some parents had to take leave from work to visit the department.

However, up until today, many unhappy parents are still queuing at the department and demanding answers.

“The exams are starting in two weeks’ time and my child has not attended a single day of school this year,” said another parent.

Another child could not attend high school last year because there was no space, and this year, once again, the schools are full and there is still no place for him.

“This is how our country turns kids into criminals if they cannot even attend school and get an education,” said another parent.

One parent considered placing her child in a home-schooling setup but was advised by an official at the Department of Education in Secunda not to do so, as she was told her child would be given a space the following week.

However, the following week, this parent still did not have a place for her child.

“I regret not putting my child in a home-school setup, because then at least she would have started school. Now she is still sitting at home,” said the parent.

It is alleged that one of the schools in eMbalenhle already has 85 learners in a class but was willing to accept more learners for an additional fee of R300.

“So it is a R500 registration fee and R300 in the teacher’s pocket,” said the parent who had an encounter with the school.

ALSO READ: Emergency services respond to two separate accidents near Kinross and Evander

“That will not work. If there are 85 learners in one class, they will probably all fail. How can one teacher control so many learners?”

“We will not pay bribes like that.”

The Ridge Times contacted at least three officials at the Department of Education and sent WhatsApp messages and emails but has still not received any comment from the department.

The WhatsApp messages were read but ignored.

The Ridge Times also called several landline numbers in Nelspruit and Ermelo, but there was no answer.