POLOKWANE – Parents from Westenburg have been camping at Capricorn High School since the weekend to enroll their children at the school.
They are upset because the Department of Education instructed schools in the city to apply departmental policies when accepting learners. This means learners will only be accepted at schools if they stay in the area the school is.
“The department expects us to register our children at Westenburg Secondary School, but the school does not cater for our learners. For years now the school has struggled with a shortage of Afrikaans teachers. Our children are taught in English but have to write exams in Afrikaans and the results are clear in the poor pass rate,” one parent said.
Read more:
Westenburg parents speak out
W’burg parents still demanding Afrikaans teachers 3yrs on
Another parent said the school does not participate in any sporting codes nor do they have facilities for these sporting codes. “A lot of talent goes to waste as children are not able to participate in sports,” the parent said.
“If the department expects us to register our kids in certain schools they need to improve the quality of education at these schools. We will not settle for anything but the best for our children because education is key to their futures.”
The parents said the department expects schools to accept learners within their own community, but Westenburg Secondary accommodates a large number of learners from Seshego although there are schools available in these areas.
“Why is it that the department only enforces the policies at some schools and turn a blind eye at others?” parents asked.
The department recently called on parents to register their children for the new school year between 18 April and 31 May.
“The department will monitor the admission process closely to minimise the occurrence of unfair discrimination,” a press statement, issued by the department earlier this month, stated.
Education Spokesperson, Dr Naledzani Rasila, said the policy is clear and parents may register their children at the nearest school to their workplace if they reside there.
“Capricorn High School will give children living close by and learners from their feeder schools preference,” Rasila explained.
With relation to administrative services when they visit schools he said the department is trying to speed up appointments. On the non-participation of learners in sporting codes and the lack of facilities he said this is a challenge the school can deal with.
Rasila said the department may not know the quality of education parents are referring to, however, “the performance of schools depends on the support schools get from communities, hence there are SGBs composed of both parents, teachers and in secondary school, a learner component.”
