Jabulani says, “I was only told in October that Mbali (13) was not going to get into Springs Secondary School to start her Grade Eight year.”
“When I registered Mbali, there was no waiting list and I made numerous check-ups to ensure she was accepted and eventually I was told she did not get into Springs Secondary School because the school was full,” adds Jabulani.
Jabulani and his family live in KwaThema but both he and his wife, Lettie, work in the Springs area.
Although they did not fall under the feeder area he believes that because he and Lettie work in Springs his daughter should have been accepted without any problems.
A large number of children did not make it into a school at the start of the school year due to schools being full to capacity but Jabulani feels that he registered Mbali early enough to secure a place for her and to not fall under the statistic of not getting his child into a school.
When schools reopened last week Jabulani was sent to the Springs District of Gauteng Education to lodge a complaint about his daughter not getting into a school and he was offered a space at another local high school, which he declined.
District director, Maureen Mthimunye says, “I indicated the challenges of schools that were almost over enrolling and Springs Secondary was one of those, but we will certainly assist where we can.”
Springs Secondary School was the only choice for Mbali and Jabulani and he did not list any other high schools as alternatives on the registration form he completed in March last year.
“My older daughter attended Springs Secondary School and that is where I want Mbali to attend,” says Jabulani.
Jabulani, along with other parents who were placed on a waiting list for Springs Secondary School were granted a meeting with the school and the district on Monday morning to hear where their children would be placed.
Jabulani says, “I am being treated as a parent who registered late and I was not late.”
The meeting was a success for Jabulani as Mbali was finally placed in the school of their choice.
“She starts school on Tuesday, I am so happy that I fought so hard and it worked,” Jabulani told the Addie on Monday.
