Westenburg parents angry over pass rate
One of the major concerns that the parents have is the lack of teachers able to teach in Afrikaans, a problem that has persisted for almost three years.
POLOKWANE – On Wednesday, as schools across the country went back to school, parents of learners at Westenburg Secondary School gathered at the school in protest of the school’s dismal performance last year.
The school obtained a pass rate of just more than 40% with all learners considered and this in turn impacts the Gr 8 learner intake this year. Parents have questioned how so many learners could have failed, saying the marks reflected on the reports are not the learners actual marks but rather, an average mark.
“The pass rate in the other grades doesn’t look any better. Some are repeating their academic year for a third time,” one parent, who remains anonymous for fear of reprisal, said. The person alleges that Bettie Boom, the school’s Acting Principal, told them that the Department of Education no longer supports the policy of condoning marks.
“This raises the red flags for us, especially since no one is forthcoming with any answers,” the parent said.
One of the major concerns that the parents have is the lack of teachers able to teach in Afrikaans, a problem that has persisted for almost three years. The department has not appointed permanent teachers in this regard despite promises made year after year this, while parents continue to lament the situation, giving practical examples.
Parents say some of the classes are taught in Sepedi when it is not the mother tongue of majority of learners. What further fuels their anger, is that they have been told the school has been turned into an English medium school as from this year.
The parents further claim the school has a culture of teachers not equipped to teach properly, and using teaching time for personal errands.
Eugene Lyle, Chairperson of the Westenburg School Governing Body (SGB), confirmed to Review that an appeals process was underway at the school, saying the parents’ letters would be submitted to the circuit office.
A meeting with parents is also scheduled for Thursday. He added the SGB and the department were still in discussions around the issue of a shortage of teachers.
Lyle appealed to parents to become active participants in the school’s processes and not “simply voice problems while the rest of the year, they are not involved”.
Dr Naledzani Rasila, Spokesperson for the Department of Education, urged parents to submit a written complaint to the circuit office of the department for intervention.
Westenburg’s pass rates for 2016, according to Lyle, were as follows:
• Gr 8 – 40%.
• Gr 9 – 50%.
• Gr 10 – 36%.
• Gr 11 – 41%.
• Gr 12 – 42,9%.
