The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the Northern Cape Education Department and the MEC, Zolile Monakali, to avoid what it calls an intolerable situation at Garies High School in the Northern Cape. DA MP and the party’s Constituency Head of Kamiesberg, Veronica van Dyk, says schooling has been disrupted due to a shortage of teachers.
Van Dyk says the coronavirus pandemic has already disrupted schooling, stressing that further disruptions should be avoided.
“The DA is appealing to the Northern Cape MEC of Education, Zolile Monakali, to urgently intervene at Garies High School following a week-long school closure in protest of a teacher shortage and a lack of hostel staff. Parents are angry because the Education Department is ignoring their concerns that learners, including matriculants, have been without a history teacher for more than a month.
Learners in other grades that have history and technology subjects are also affected. In addition to the above complaints, the hostel also has eight vacancies, for staff ranging from cooks and cleaners to a matron. Parents, the school governing body, the school management have made numerous attempts to engage with the Department and the District office to no avail,” adds Van Dyk.
She says the department of education needs to engage with parents.
“The department needs to step forward and engage with parents and find an amicable solution. The matter will be further taken up by the DA’s provincial spokesperson of Education, Priscilla Isaacs. We cannot afford to have learners missing out on even more school. The pandemic has been disruptive enough and parents, educators and learners must avoid school stayaways at all costs.”
The party says the learners have the right to be taught.
The department is yet to respond to the DA’s call.
