16k pupils not yet in class
JOBURG – The department assures that Matric pupils will start the school year on an e-learning platform when schools open.
Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi said he is pleased that the province was ready to start with teaching and learning when schools reopen on 13 January.
MEC Lesufi briefed members of the media on 12 January on the state of readiness for the 2016 academic year in relation to pupil placement. He said that most pupils which required admission, especially in Grade 1 and 8, were placed.
“Learning and teaching material have been delivered to [the] majority of schools, additional furniture have been delivered where it is most needed and several new and refurbished schools including school for pupils with special needs, will open their doors,” he said.
He further explained that transport and nutrition would be provided to those pupils that deserve support. However, as of 12 January, 16 864 pupils in the province have not yet been placed in a school due to late applications, lack of space and the department was expecting the number to increase as more parents were expected to require admission for their children.
“Furniture backlogs will not be eliminated in time for the start of the 2016 academic year,” he continued. High demand for spaces due to inward migration, changing demographic patterns, development of new residential complexes and informal settlements, and parents seeking placement from independent to public schools due to financial constraints, were some of the factors attributed to the challenge of education in the province.
https://twitter.com/EducationGP/status/686829566653022208
https://twitter.com/EducationGP/status/686826182529150980]
Lesufi explained that a total of 138 820 applications for Grade 1 were received and 116 249 have been placed while in Grade 8, 87 015 have been placed from
101 592 applications that were received.
“The major pressure areas are Johannesburg region (central and east) and Tshwane (west and south) that combined, account for 10 400,” he elaborated.
The department would implement certain measures to remedy the admission challenges. Some of these measures were using schools halls, community schools and temporarily create Grade 8 in a primary school.
He concluded that district directors would continue to explore all options to seek placement for pupils including the use of scholar transport and consultation with the school governing body (SGB). “We urge parents to contact the relevant district for assistance,” he concluded.
Details: Gauteng Department of Education, 011 355 0145.
Related articles:
ICT has helped Matric pupils: Lesufi
A record number to sit for NCS examination this year
