GovernmentNews

All learners will be placed – Chiloane

Education MEC Matome Chiloane has reassured parents that the department is working around the clock to place remaining learners who are yet to be assigned a school.

The MEC made the comments during a media briefing where he provided an update on learner placements and the department’s readiness for the new academic year.

“We are working around the clock; we are engaging our schools. We are continuing to place our learners. When we started we had 292 145 complete applications. These are the parents who were able to provide all the necessary documentation and also met the deadline. We also had incomplete applications” he said.

According to Chiloane, the majority of unplaced learners are from the Olifantsfontein and Kempton Park area.

“In Olifant, we have engaged a church where they have given us space to ensure that we close off the remaining 236 Grade 1 applicants and also there’s an additional three mobile units that will be provided to increase school capacities so that we can place all the learners,” he said.

He added, “In Grade 8, Kempton Park area…we are still left with 501 unplaced learners. We are continuing to speak to our schools…to work together to ensure that we close off things.”

The Tshwane West district is another pressure area with some 223 Grade 8 learners unplaced and in Johannesburg West District a further 434 Grade 8 learners unplaced.

“To those parents [whose children have not been placed]…I am assuring you that your children will be in class. We know that patience is not endless but allow us, work with us and be patient with us. It’s a very delicate process but just know that we are aggressive in ensuring that we get these learners in classrooms,” Chiloane said.

The department is currently working on building a satellite high school in Tshwane to accommodate learners and negotiating to occupy some 10 classrooms at the Robinhood College in Johannesburg.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.