Parents and community members closed the school gates of Klapmuts Hill Primary and adjacent Klapmuts High School, refusing to budge until they received answers from the provincial education department over decisions concerning the school.
Officers of the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit were stationed at the school on Tuesday morning (18 February). This comes after parents of Grade 5 learners received letters stating the class would now be taught in Afrikaans, despite it being an English-medium class. Parents were apparently informed the change was immediate, with Afrikaans teaching set for Monday.
With little-to-no answers from school management and the school governing body, parents asked the local circuit manager to come and address them, but he indicated he was not available. “We took my grandson out of the other local school so he could be taught in English,” Nonceba Tshababala said. “That way he may have an easier time with his future studies and more opportunities.”
She said parents were told the Grade 5 teacher’s contract had ended and no new appointment would be made.
Parents of high school learners also raised concerns. Abongile Kobo said her Grade 11 child was informed that mathematics and physical science were no longer on offer. “They were just told everyone was going to do tourism now. This is unacceptable. Language is also a problem because it is so confusing to go from lessons in English to Afrikaans.”
After negotiations all parties agreed to meet later that day.
According to parent Leticia Petersen, whose children attend both schools, the department is working on plans to address parents’ concerns. “Why was it necessary for us to take these actions before they came to meet with us? It is the learners who suffer most,” she said.
“But there has been some positive steps and the circuit manager as well as the local directors have listened to us. They say the challenges with the language issue and the lack of maths and physical science will be addressed as they assured us teachers will be appointed.”
Eikestadnuus approached the department for comment, but no response was received at the time of going to print.
Classes resumed as per normal on Wednesday.
