Parents, with the support of community members, say they are aggrieved about the Department of Education's failure to honour its promise of adding Grade 11 and 12 classes at the school. The school only accommodates learners up to Grade 10
Angry community members locked the school gate to deny teachers and learners access to the school premises
ANGRY parents blockaded the school gate of Nqundu Combined School in Nkandla on Wednesday, preventing teachers and learners from entering.
Parents, with the support of community members, say they are aggrieved about the Department of Education’s failure to honour its promise of adding Grade 11 and 12 classes at the school. The school only accommodates learners up to Grade 10.
Disgruntled parent Fana Zulu claims they met with the heard of department, Vusumuzi Nzama, and the District Director of Education, Dr David Chonco, in 2017, when an agreement was reached that the department would provide the school with two mobile classrooms to accommodate Grade 11 and 12 pupils ,but nothing has come of it.’
‘Our problem is that our children are struggling to complete high school because neighbouring schools are filled to capacity and cannot accommodate us,’ Zulu said.
He added in cases where learners do get access to other schools, parents who are unemployed cannot afford the extra travel costs.
‘With the little money that they receive from child support grants, they are forced to use the money to pay for transport or rented accommodation.
Angry community members outside Nqundu Combined school yesterday
‘We are also citizens of this country, so we need to be treated as such.
‘We will continue with our protest until our demands are met,’ Zulu said.
KZN Department of Education spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, said the behaviour of the parents is unfortunate.
‘The issue was dealt with. If they need more answers, they should approached the school principal and school governing body and stop disrupting teaching and learning at the school.’
