LIMPOPO – Paper. That is the apparent demand of Weenen Combined School’s principal in order to release learners’ reports of 2018, angry parents allege. Bosveld received complaints on Monday that learners of Weenen still haven’t received their final reports for last year.
Parents claim that Boitumelo Zulu, the principal, told learners that she would only issue them their reports and textbooks for 2019 if they bring to school three reams of paper and one bag of toilet paper each. It is said that this happened during December.
Most of the learners, according to the parents Bosveld spoke to, are poor villagers.
They state that these parents, mostly from Makapan and Matabaleng, survive on social grants and are low-income labourers.
“We thought that the principal would come around and change her mind, but she still demands the paper reams and toilet paper. We need to know if our children have passed. They could not even enjoy the holiday because they have great uncertainty,” says a parent who prefers to stay anonymous.
Charles Khotsa, Mogalakwena DA Councillor commented. “This is totally unlawful and against the constitutional rights of the parents and learners. Weenen Combined School falls under quintile one which caters for indigent learners and therefore a no-fee school. For the principal to demand reams of paper and toilet paper from parents is uncalled for.”
Neither the principal or the education Circuit Office could be reached for comment. Bosveld will update the story online.
