Gauteng govt assures parents that no pupil will be left out amid placement challenges
On Wednesday, education officials joined parents across the province in celebrating the first day of school, but not everyone was smiling.
Pupils at Braamfischerville primary school in Soweto have arrived for the first day of school. Picture: Mongezi Koko/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government has assured parents who couldn’t secure school placement for their children this year that no pupil would be left out.
On Wednesday, education officials joined parents across the province in celebrating the first day of school, but not everyone was smiling.
Many parents expressed frustration with what they termed the department’s inefficiencies.
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Premier Panyaza Lesufi visited Raymond Mhlaba School of Specialisation, praising its 100% matric pass rate and welcoming pupils to the new academic year.
He also addressed placement challenges and promised that all children in Gauteng would be accommodated.
"So all the parents that are in the queue, all the parents that need, if you are in Gauteng, your child will be placed. The only challenge is that you might not be placed at the school that you want, but to be placed, you are going to be placed."
Hopeful parents said they’d return on Thursday to try again.