As inland schools reopened on Wednesday, 11 January 2023, more than 1,300 learners remained at home as the Gauteng Education Department (GDE) is yet to place them in schools in the province.
The department says that it will work tirelessly to ensure that all remaining learners are placed and aims to complete the process by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, schools in several Gauteng areas are already filled to capacity and parents were left with two options, either their children stay at home or attend schools that are already overcrowded.
Frustrated parents at Westside Primary School in Kempton Park expressed disgust as they had to witness their children being taught outside on the ground during their first day back at school.
“Westside Primary is one of the most popular schools in this community but unfortunately the school has been neglected by the department of education,” said one of the parents.
Currently the school has 845 learners occupying 17 classrooms and more children are expected to be added to the total.
“The Minister of Education needs to address this urgently, this school needs more classrooms so that more children in the community can be accommodated.”
Executive Director for the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA, (Naptosa) Basil Manuel says that although teachers and school staff have been preparing to welcome learners back to schools, it does not mean that the problems associated with some schools and areas have disappeared.
“There are things we are worried about, especially the overcrowding of schools and whether schools have enough learning materials and textbooks,” he says.
Naptosa has called on the department to implement long-term solutions that will address the problematic enrolment and placement process.
Furthermore, a Primary School in Pimville Soweto is expected to welcome thousands of learners back to school. However, parents have expressed frustrations, saying that the school is in no condition to reopen as it lacks proper infrastructure and classrooms that are conducive to learning.
“There has been no formal communication from the school informing us about the infrastructure crisis, the school has not made any plans to address the matter,” says parents.
Parents are now calling on the department to provide extra mobile classrooms so that learners can start the new school year in a conducive environment.
