By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Education has once again refuted the allegations that Addington Primary School in Durban is prioritises foreign nationals.
MEC of Education Sipho Hlomuka, Head of Department Nkosinathi Ngcobo, uMlazi District Director Busi Mahlambi, and others visited the school on Thursday to monitor admissions and school functionality.
This follows weeks of protests and chaos over admissions at the school.
Tensions peaked yesterday when March and March brought 21 pupils to the school, hoping that they would be enrolled.
Violence has no place in our schools, and those who seek to divide communities by using learners as scapegoats are undermining the values of dignity, equality, and social cohesion, said Hlomuka.
Hlomuka said pupils, regardless of their nationality, should not be victimised. The constitution is unambiguous: every child within our borders has the right to basic education.”
Hlomuka said the department had made arrangement for 11 Grade 1 pupils who have not yet been placed to be accommodated at a nearest ECD centre at a reduced rate.
He said as it stands, there is a list of 15 to 21 pupils that still need to be placed.
“We empathise with the parents; however, we do not condone or encourage the method that has left teachers and learners in trauma,” Hlomuka said.
Ngcobo said spaces open up at the school when parents who applied to multiple schools opt for another school or transfer their child. This attrition is how they were able to admit more learners at Addington Primary School.
He said that parents with learner admission issues must first go to district offices for assistance and if unassisted, they can escalate to the head office.
Ngcobo said they heard allegations of bribery at Addington Primary School, but there is no evidence, and no one has come forward.
“At this point in time, we don’t have any tangible report or any tangible evidence that we can follow on that says there is bribery, but should we have that, we will act accordingly, “Ngcobo said.
Hlomuka said the timing of the protests was concerning, as the province was working to consolidate improvements in learner outcomes and matric performance.
“Our progress must not be overshadowed by disorder and inflammatory rhetoric that distracts from the real work of building a high-performing education system.”
He said the school followed approved admission protocols, which placed the responsibility on the parent to ensure that the children are registered and taken to school as per the requirements of the SA School Act.