Northern Cape
‘Some of the learners who were looking for placement said they had decided to start matric afresh, because they had not been taught enough last year.’
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MEANWHILE, Kaylene Manakka (9), a learner of the Kevin Nkoane Primary School in Kimberley, pulled out all the stops to prepare herself for school. Excited to start gr. 4, she and her mom were among the many who were buying stationery on Monday. Photo: Boipelo Mere
Learners to new schools Department’s decision results in community losing faith
} Boipelo Mere THE Joe Morolong Road Forum has reportedly been saddened by the de-registration of gr. 11 and gr. 12 learners in 2014. The decision by the Department of Education to de-register the learners resulted in some of the community members and learners losing faith in the forum and looking for placement in other schools that had not been affected by the protests. Some of the learners who were looking for placement said they had decided to start matric afresh, because they had not been taught enough last year.
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Worried that they would have to return to their original schools, the learners were frustrated that they did not get placement and were unsure if it was because of the protests or not. “Our time was wasted as the community ended up not even receiving what they wanted. “I am worried. I cannot see myself going for the supplementary examination, because I am not confident enough. “There are some who will be writing the supplementary exams, but I want to repeat gr. 12,” said the learner. Lucky Kaibas, a member of the Road Forum who continued to blame govern-
ment for failing to deliver to its people, gave the assurance that schooling would return to normal this year. He said the forum had taken the mandate from the community that the children had to go back to school. He added that there was a possibility of further protests against the 10 km road. “We are not to blame here. We take our mandate from the community. Government should have responded the minute it realised that the children were not attending school, because education is a top priority to the ruling party. But it did not, instead it showed arrogance. “It is hurtful to us to see what a laugh-
ing stock we have become to the politicians. Even Pres. Jacob Zuma was seen on television laughing when he mentioned our demands and the prevention of schooling. “Today we are also accused by the media controlled by corrupt politicians for refusing the learners to go to camps, which is not true at all.” ) At the time of going to print Sydney Stander of the Northern Cape Department of Education was still looking into the matter of learners moving to other schools and promised to respond. Updates on the story will be published on the Express website.
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