Disgruntled parents of unplaced learners gather outside DOE offices
Angry parents across the West Rand gathered outside the Department of Education's Gauteng West District office in Rand West City for hours on end demanding placement for their children.
Scores of disgruntled parents from different parts of the West Rand were up in arms outside the Department of Education’s Gauteng West District office for hours on end.
This after children, who were meant to be heading to their Grade 1 and 8 classes, were left stranded due to not receiving placement for the 2023 academic year. While some parents of affected learners still hope and showed patience, others were fed up and called for the online application system to be scrapped.
Also read: Mixed bag of emotions for Avanté Grade 1s
The Herald went to the district office to assess the situation and upon arrival spoke to resident Gloria Molapo who said the online application system has caused her to go to the district for a second day. She again left disappointed and with a sour taste in her mouth.
“I applied online and on time and I’m not impressed. My child is not placed where we initially applied. She has placed in a school that is far from where we stay so we are still standing here for hours and this is the second day. My child is sitting at home and she is supposed to be in her Grade 8 class tomorrow,” said a frustrated Molapo.
Meanwhile, Samuel Leburu from Swaneville in Rietvallei, Krugersdorp shared the same sentiments.
“What is the reason for a child doing a primary school in their area, only to find that there’s a shortage of high schools. Our children are either placed too far or not placed at all. We are also incurring heavy costs due to placement that have been done in places that are out of reach for our children and we are already struggling financially, ” said Leburu.
Another local Margarete Davidson from Toekomsrus said the online application system should be dealt away with.
Also read: GDE confirms 268 192 Grade 1 and 8 learners already placed for 2023
“Then online system doesn’t work for us. The department placed our children where we didn’t apply,” said Davidson whose child is going to Grade 1.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) issued a statement saying they are tackling the issue of unplaced learners.
“The Department is continuing to place Grade 1 and 8 learners who were applied for during the 2023 Online Admissions application period. Currently, there are applicants that remain unplaced, while some applicants who previously had incomplete applications continue to be placed,” said Mabona.
He added that the Department procured a total of 419 mobile classrooms to address pressure of unplaced applications across the province.The procurement of self-build classroom is also used to increase placement capacity.
“We continue to encourage schools to be part of the self-build programme. In high pressure areas we are establishing satellite schools and there is a concerted effort to work with the sister departments to acquire more land to increase the number of schools in high pressure area,” said Mabona.
Meanwhile, the Department has received a total of 4 801 appeals emanating from objected placements offered to applicants and is working to finalise the appeals.
