The parents of some learners at Gobindlovu High School at Elandskop in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands are up in arms after their children, who have failed their grades twice, were asked not to return to school this year.
The parents say their children are now left stranded, with no school in the area willing to accept them for the 2024 academic year.
They are appealing for the Department of Education to intervene.
They allege that in December last year, on the last day of school, over ten learners were served with expulsion letters. These are learners who were repeating Grades 9, 10 and 11.
The affected parents speak about their plight.
“My child was in Grade 9, other children have been called by the school to fetch their stationery, and my child is at home worried. They told me that they do not take a learner who has failed a Grade twice,” says one of the parents.
Another parent says, ” Other nearby schools have also decided that they will not accept our children. I am depressed that my grandchild has been kicked out of Gobindlovu High School because he failed twice. I am an old lady and I don’t have money to take him to other schools outside our area. I am a widow and his mother died. I am only depending on my pension and child support grant.”
Meanwhile, the Provincial Department of Education says there is no policy stating that a learner who fails a grade more than twice can be expelled.
KZN Department of Education’s Muzi Mahlambi, says, “We don’t understand why you chase away the child when there is an assessment policy that regulates what you do with a child that has failed twice. A policy regulates that. So, we are appealing to all our principals to go back to the policy but if there are individual cases that need to be brought to our attention, we would appreciate that so we can work on that matter.”
The affected parents are expected to hold a meeting next week in a bid to find a way forward.
