Hoërskool Riebeeckrand has fired back at claims that it is racist and has refuted allegations that the school is operating from a place of exclusion in not appointing teachers of colour at the school as well as the admission of black learners.
This is a stance from the institution and comes after scores of members from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took to the school on January 19, to stage a peaceful protest outside the school. This was to air their frustrations regarding allegations that the school was turning away black learners from enrolling at the school and had not hired black teachers as well.
• Also read: EFF pickets outside Hoërskool Riebeeckrand against alleged racism
Responding to these claims, Hoërskool Riebeeckrand principal Annelize van den Berg said that the allegations are nothing but false.
I deny any kind of racism at our school. We don’t judge people by the colour of their skin.
“We had already appointed teachers of colour, provided that they can fluently speak English and Afrikaans, because the school is double medium and teaching is to take place in Afrikaans and English. We also do not appoint Afrikaans teachers who cannot teach in English. Our timetable does not make provision for a teacher to only teach in one language. Our languages of teaching and learning are Afrikaans and English. We do not refuse to appoint black or coloured teachers. Some of our white teachers even prefer to teach the English learners.
“In secondary schools, teachers are specialised in their subjects. This means we cannot appoint someone to teach only in English,” said Van den Berg.
Asked on the issue of whether or not the school has employed black teachers at the school, Van den Berg said there is currently one teacher of colour at the school and one admin person as well. She added that another teacher of colour who was previously appointed, left the school to pursue an opportunity overseas.
Meanwhile, the school together with the EFF were locked behind closed doors in a meeting on January 19. This was to find a way forward regarding the alleged exclusion of learners at the school. Addressing the outcomes of the meeting, Van den Berg said they were able to find common ground with those present at the meeting.
This was to combine the Afrikaans classes to make a class available for additional English learners.
We cannot just add on classes – the timetable only makes provision for a certain number of classes, and we cannot add classes without teachers. We agreed on 16 learners.
“Everyone in the meeting agreed on this arrangement. Because of the additional class, additional spaces became available, and we also placed a few additional English learners from our own waiting list – mostly learners with siblings already in the school,” said Van den Berg who added that currently, the school is 127% full.
She highlighted that with the online system, schools do not do the placement themselves. Learners are being placed by the system with a situation of those who applied first, are placed first, as long as they comply with the criteria.
She added that the biggest issue is the one of physical space and that most of their classrooms are very small and that there is a lack of ablution facilities.
“Classrooms have to come with teachers, furniture, cupboards, ablution facilities, electronics, etc, mobile classrooms without all the necessary additions, are not feasible. Space on the grounds should also be taken into consideration. Learners need space for sports fields, playing areas, gardens, etc.
The safety aspect is also important. The school was originally built for 650 learners. The grounds are not big.
“There is a lot to be taken in account to be a functional and efficient school with good results, ” said Van den Berg who added that this was mentioned to the EFF representatives who also understood the situation.
