By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane has criticised parents who refused admission to township schools as the department grapples with a placement backlog.
Chiloane spoke to the media during the back-to-school visit to Kgatontle Secondary School in Ga Rankuwa, north of Pretoria.
Disgruntled parents who are struggling to obtain placements for their children in schools have been camping at the department’s district offices.
“We also continue to appeal to parents to work with us on this matter,” Chiloane said.
“We have high-pressure areas because of the massive residential development that has been taking place. Local government has not really come to the party with this as they approve of these massive developments and not consider schooling spaces, which has put more pressure on us”
Chiloane defended the department’s online application system, saying it was not the cause of the delay in placement of pupils.
He said the challenge is a lack of space at parents’ preferred schools. The placement is an ongoing process.
“In late applications, we offer placement where spaces are available. When the parents apply and accept the space, we consider it as placed, so there are some parents who come afterwards and try to change their choices. Unfortunately, that cannot happen.”
He added, that they will need at least 10 days to finalise school placement challenges in the province.
Meanwhile, opposition parties raised concerns over some schools still waiting for learning materials.
The Democratic Alliance’s Baxolile Nodada has called for Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga’s head over her supposed failure to raise the quality of South Africa’s education system.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said the shortage of classrooms was an infringement on the rights of young people.
“As we have seen in the previous years, many will be left disappointed as they struggle to attain placements. The destruction of our education system in South Africa is the biggest crime committed by our unpatriotic government.”
Over 21,000 children are yet placed in schools, with the department saying applications for grades 1 and 8 remain open until the end of January.