Home News Frustrated parents’ patience run out after children still not placed at schools

Frustrated parents’ patience run out after children still not placed at schools

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They said they have waited patiently for the department for several weeks after they appealed their rejected applications.

Concerned parents waiting for answers outside the Department of Education district office this morning. Picture: Danie van der Lith

CITY parents, who have appealed the outcome of their children’s school applications, on February 1 2021, returned to the district offices of the Northern Cape Department in New Park.

Frustrated parents said they are still in the dark about which schools their children will attend this year.

They said they have waited patiently for the department for several weeks after they appealed their rejected applications.

One parent, Genevieve Soul, said they had been sent from pillar to post but nobody is able to shed light on the matter.

“We came to the district office at about 7am this morning (February 1). We stood outside and nobody came out to assist us.

“Someone eventually told us that the department is waiting for feedback from the schools to hear whether there is space available to accommodate our children. They said they gave the schools a 10-day grace period. They promised they will get back to us once they have received feedback from the schools,” said Soul.

She said she had been struggling for years to secure placement for her child.

“I applied for placement in 2019. My child was in the Free State. By 2020 I had not received any feedback from the department. I was forced to place my child in a private school as we could not find space at a public school. Last year I applied at four different schools and all my applications were rejected.

“I am currently unemployed and cannot take my child back to a private school. I still owe the school outstanding fees and I am not sure what I will do if my child does not find a place,” she added.

Another parent said she will continue to knock on the department’s door until she finds the answers she desperately needs.

“We stood outside the district office for more than an hour. An official eventually came out and asked us to go into the boardroom. He told us that the person who works with the appeals is at the Teachers’ Centre. We went to the centre but could not find the person.

“The people at the centre were surprised to see us there and also made calls to the department in an attempt to get answers on how to assist us. We eventually left, but I will not give. I will return until someone is able to give me answers.”

She said her application was also rejected even though she stays in close proximity to the school she applied at.

The parents claimed that the application process is flawed and favours some parents.

“There are apparently parents who went to the schools and asked for placement. Those parents were given space at the schools. There are also parents who are not staying in the same area or close to the schools, but their applications were successful,” they said.

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