The parents of the learners who were temporarily placed at The Hill (Grade Nine and 10) and Sir John Adamson (Grade Eight) high schools feel they are neglected and hard done by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).
This after the discussions among the parents, GDE chief director Dennis Makwakwa and his delegation, where they came to a conclusion that the department will place the learners at two schools in the South.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Learners to be placed in school halls in the South
Here are the few grievances the parents brought to COURIER:
• They say they didn’t know they were placing their children in ‘quarantine’, where there is fence separating them with other learners (at The Hill High).
• Black rubber mat is used as chalkboard for Grade Nine learners.
• The filthy toilet is shared by both boys and girls and there is no toilet paper.
• There are only two male teachers and an intern from the district.
• They feel like outsiders in their own country.
• They feel the building that was promised in Booysens was just a decoy to get rid of them.
• Maths teacher has to drive from school to school.
• There are no textbooks.
• It is towards the end of the first term and parents don’t know whether their children will write exams or not.
ALSO READ: WATCH: School placement nightmare continues at President High
They also mentioned they told the department they have identified two open spaces for the learners, one in Turffontein below Sporting Football Club and a second at Falcon Private School (the school is closed and the building is empty).
They say all this back and forth shows it is not a matter of space, just disrespect from the department.
Parents said they need MEC Panyaza Lesufi to help them as soon as possible.
In response to this matter, Gauteng Department of Education’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, said: “We can confirm that The Hill High hall is utilised as a temporary measure. We are finalising the process of supplying mobile classrooms to separate the two grades accordingly.”
ALSO READ: WATCH: Angry parents vent frustrations over placement at President High School
