Education Dept needs 10 days to resolve learner placement backlog: Motshekga
Though schools reopened across the country on Wednesday, thousands have yet to be placed in classrooms.
Former Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga. Picture: @DBE_SA/Twitter
TSHWANE - In Gauteng, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has pleaded with parents whose children have not yet been allocated schools to give them at least 10 days to resolve the issue.
As schools re-opened nationwide on Wednesday, the Gauteng Department of Education scrambled to find classrooms for pupils.
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Motshekga was speaking in Ga-Rankuwa where she was monitoring the first day of the academic year.
The minister acknowledged that placement shortages and overcrowding in schools were an annual problem as she pleaded for patience from parents.
“We have a huge annual problem of placements. Unfortunately, I get embarrassingly rude this time of the year. Parents rightfully panic when their children have not been placed, [and] they become anxious.
“It’s a very difficult period, not only in Gauteng. We normally appeal to communities to please give us 10 days to settle, to identify spaces, to mitigate against any other issue we might have.”
The minister also addressed concerns over vital learning material that was not delivered on time.
Despite the department insisting that it placed all pupils, it is under fire - once again - with parents complaining of multiple online application system issues.