POLOKWANE – The Department of Education, through its Spokesperson, Sam Makondo, said all public schools in Polokwane have admitted learners to full capacity for the 2018 academic year.
He added all schools tried to admit most of the learners meeting the admission criteria.
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“All schools have waiting lists which they submitted to the circuit offices. All qualifying children have either been admitted or put on the waiting list for placement.”
Makondo said all schools processed applications and notified parents in writing using their self-addressed envelopes which parents submitted with their applications.
“Late applications will be addressed by the circuit and districts in cases where the circumstances are considerable, such as transfers and parents being appointed in Polokwane.”
At the beginning of every year there is a major problem having learners admitted to schools in the city due to a shortage of space available in relation to the applications received.
“One then finds many parents running around seeking admission in schools at the beginning of the school year. To try and prevent this situation, the department this year opened admissions from 18 April to 31 May, instead of August to September, when applications were usually submitted to schools. Schools then had to inform parents of the results of their application by 30 July,” he explained.
Makondo said the department will explore where it is possible to increase learner carrying capacity in existing primary schools to accommodate learners not admitted or placed on a waiting list.
Some four, five years ago the department announced a new school would be built in Bendor and that the land was identified
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“In 2015 the department announced again that construction of that school will begin in 2016, but so far, two years later, nothing has been done.
Asked what the plans are, if any, regarding the school to be built, Makondo said plans are in the pipeline.
“Construction is planned for 2019 as the department had to contend with competing needs of infrastructure across the province such as storm damaged schools, water and sanitation and maintenance of existing infrastructure”.
Section 9 of the South African Schools Act No. 84 of 1996 (Sasa) states any learner or parent of a learner who has been refused admission to a public school may appeal against the decision to the Member of the Executive Council of that particular province.
