ROBERTSHAM – While some parents might be confused about the R150 that has to be paid for school textbooks at Theo Wassenaar Primary School, the school says this is in the best interest of the health and wellbeing of the learners.
One parent who contacted the COURIER queried this extra payment, but the school said that there should be extra textbooks in class as opposed to learners carrying double volume bags and end up with serious back injuries.
The recent changeover from the OBE to CAPS teaching method requires that every child must have a textbook for almost every subject. This has contributed to learners carrying extra heavy bags and in some cases two bags to school. And parents have been vocal in their criticism about these heavy bags.
The school said that it presented two options to parents at its budget meeting last year. One was a bigger increase in school fees where the buying of additional textbooks would be factored into the fees, or paying a smaller extra amount to enable the school to buy the textbooks.
The school fees would have been R7 400, but with parents unanimously accepting a R150 once-off payment the fees remained at R7 000.
“This enabled the school to buy the texbooks and thus allowing the learners to lighten their bags. That means there will be a text book in the classroom and the child could now leave their heavy textbooks at home,” said SGB chairperson Mohammed Ismail.
One parent who contacted the COURIER said, ”The school is requesting every child to pay R150 for extra text books, meaning that each child will be having two texts books, one will remain at school and the other one will be given to them to remain at home for homework. If a child didn’t pay then she/he won’t be able to do homework. This was initiated by the SGB without parents’ consultation due to other kids having back problems when carrying text books. We raised the issue during this year’s first parents meeting and we were told to write a letter to the SGB stating that we won’t pay. We feel that our kids will be victimised if we do that. This R150 is non-refundable and they are not telling us what they will do with the money. My questions are: Why can’t they give books to kids who don’t mind to carry books home? If a child doesn’t have a text book, why can’t they borrow them to do homework and allow them to bring the book back the next day? Other children in other schools don’t have text books, but our children will be having two text books each. This sounds very unfair,” she said.
The principal of the school, Deon Saayman, said their interest is for the learners and they will make sure problems will be solved through engagement with the parents. “If any parents feel there’s something they need to discuss with us, our door is always open, come make an appointment. The parent in question should have come to the school to sort this out. We’ve had letters from other parents regarding this matter, others were against it. However, when we explained to them, they understood and welcomed the initiative. We cannot victimise any learner here because we are here to teach them. As I said, if there’s a problem come to us,” explained Mr Saayman.
The COURIER had another call from a parent who wanted to remain anonymous; she also raised a similar concern.
