Parents and learners closed the gates of Majaja Primary School in Mthonjaneni this morning (Tuesday) over a shortage of teachers.

Claims by parents indicate there are only four teachers at the school, which caters for grades R to 7, and that they have to teach more than six subjects each.

The pupils’ parents demand the Department of Education (DoE) immediately fill the vacant grades teacher post.

“We have only four teachers. This is not the first time. Others were removed from the school last year. We raised our concerns last year.

The circuit inspector was informed, and he brought one educator to the school, and later removed him. This inspector promised to bring more teachers to the school last year, but that has not happened,” said a parent who asked not to be named.

The parent claims they had scheduled a meeting with the inspector for Friday last week, but he failed to attend.

“When we call him, he makes it clear that he is not coming and blames the school principal for failing to run the school,” the parent claimed.

“Since the reopening of school, some classes have no teachers and children are always running around. We won’t back off. We want the department to do something about this. The department must hire more teachers,” said the parent.

School governing body (SGB) chair Bernard Ngema also blames the DoE for failing to address the school’s shortage of teachers.

“We have tried to engage with the circuit inspector, but he is not helping us at all. He keeps on giving us empty promises. We have two classes that have no teachers. Grade 1 has no class teacher. Children have even come to school and gone back home without being taught,” he said.

Read the full story in this week’s ZO Weekender.

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