Gauteng schools short of space for learners
As the schools opened on Monday, most of the parents and their children were left stranded and not allocated space.
VANDERBIJLPARK.- Not all the parents who applied online were able to register their children at Parksig Primary School in Vanderbijlpark this week. As the schools opened on Monday, most of the parents and their children were left stranded and not allocated space, some alleged that they registered online around July to November last year, to which the system responded that everything is in process. They said that the next thing, those who got online responses were referred to schools outside their residential areas. Antony Sebisi, a parent from Bophelong Extension said that the system pointed his child to a Lakeside, Sebokeng school. Parents said that they had recently, 11 February, went to get answers at the Sedibeng District Department of education in Sebokeng and were apparently told to wait.
Other parents Puseletso Hlongwane and Tshidi Mmutle said they have waited for too long. “Our frustration started last year when we started to enquire with the school how far the registration online responses are. We were told not to worry as the system is still busy capturing everyone.” On Monday all hell broke loose immediately when the angry parents refused to budge saying that they have already bought new school uniforms especially for grade R and Grade one.The acting principal at Parksig, a Ms Wangra, had no choice but to call the officials from the department to sort out the mess. The problem cited by education officials is that some parents gave out wrong information and addresses for the online applications. “The result is that they locate themselves in a wrong feeder zone,” said an official from the district of education in Sebokeng. At the time of going to print meetings were proposed for a possible solution to the crisis. Parents were also advised to re-apply and to ensure that their geographic data is accurate for feeder zone purposes. This has been the case in most schools in Gauteng, however, the Department of Education has promised that no child will be without a school this year.
