The Northern Cape Department of Education said that schooling resumed at Van Rensburg Primary School in Britstown on Tuesday after parents shut down the school at the beginning of the week due to a shortage of educators.
THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Education said that schooling resumed at Van Rensburg Primary School in Britstown on Tuesday after parents shut down the school at the beginning of the week due to a shortage of educators.
Public Servants Association (PSA) general manager Marcus Ramkgale said the school has been without an adequate number of teachers for over a year.
“In 2021, three educators were interviewed for the Grade R learners although only one was appointed for a class of 82 pupils. The Grade 1 class has 169 learners with only three educators and the Grade 5 class of 110 pupils has only two educators. Educators are overburdened with work while pupils are suffering,” said Ramkgale.
He added that educators did not have enough time to focus on those who required more attention.
“The HOD for the Department of Education must intervene and prevent any more loss of learning at the school.”
The spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Education, Geoffrey van der Merwe, said the school had initially indicated that they required two additional educators.
“One additional educator was already appointed in February. The shortage of Grade R practitioners at this school is due to the fact that the school is struggling to find suitable candidates for the positions. Our district office is assisting and has encouraged the school to advertise as widely as possible to employ Grade R practitioners who meet the minimum requirements,” said Van der Merwe.
