176 UNPLACED TSHWANE WEST LEARNERS TO ATTEND SCHOOL ON MONDAY
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) wishes to confirm that all learners who were applied for during the 2023 Online Admissions application period are placed. Only about 176 Grade 8 learners from our Tshwane West District are currently awaiting their placement at a new satellite school in Pretoria North.
We have been hard at work to increase capacity in high pressure areas through various means to ensure that all learners are placed accordingly.
As of Monday, 30 January 2023, only 176 Grade 8 learners in Tshwane West remain to be placed. This remnant emanates from an initial 223 unplaced learners within our District, of which 47 learners have since been placed at Amandasig Secondary and are currently attending class on a rotational basis.
Subsequently, these 176 unplaced learners will be placed at a new satellite school registered as North Park Secondary School. These learners will start attending class from Monday, 6 February 2023.
In our Ekurhuleni North District, the initial 232 unplaced Grade 1 learners in Olifantsfontein were placed in Olifantsfontein Primary School, where capacity has been increased. Olifantsfontein Primary School received a total of 11 additional mobiles, of which 8 mobiles are currently being installed to accommodate learners who are being taught in the school hall.
Of the initial 501 unplaced Grade 8 applicants in Kempton Park, 106 were placed at schools with available space. The remaining 395 learners were placed at a satellite school registered as New Kempton Park Secondary School.
Regrettably, despite this concerted effort by the department, parents of the unplaced learners in Kempton Park raised safety concerns about the vicinity of this satellite school and are consequently refusing this placement. However, engagements with the parents will continue in a meeting with the MEC scheduled for Tuesday, 31 January 2023, at 17:00 PM. We appeal with these parents to accept this placement.
In our Johannesburg West District, of the initial 434 Grade 8 applicants that were unplaced in Roodepoort, 38 learners were accommodated at schools where capacity has been increased. The remaining 396 learners were accommodated at a satellite school registered as Robinhood College in Maraisburg. Teaching at the school is expected to commence on Wednesday, 1 February 2023.
ALEXANDRA HIGH SCHOOL FOOD INCIDENT
An incident occurred at Alexandra High School on Thursday, 26 January 2023, wherein learners displayed unacceptable behaviour by throwing out food prepared for them during lunch time. Unfortunately, video footage of this unpleasant incident has since gone viral and sparked numerous false reports.
According to an official report, learners had to queue in the order of their grades to receive lunch. The lunch that was being served was uPhuthu and milk, which is the learner’s favourite meal. Given the excitement for the meal of the day, some learners became impatient in the queues. They allegedly began pushing and shoving other learners, causing a ruckus in the queues and disturbing those who were being served.
Amid this commotion, senior learners reportedly grabbed the pot of food and dragged it away to dish up for themselves. In the process, the food that was meant to benefit other learners was spilled out, and further commotion was incited.
The main culprits were identified in the morning of Friday, 27 January 2023, using surveillance footage at the school. These learners have since been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing that is scheduled for Tuesday, 31 January 2023.
“The efforts we have undertaken to ensure that all learners are placed are proving to succeed, and will continue with these efforts to place the remaining learners in Tshwane West. We appeal with parents in Kempton Park to accept the placement measures we have developed for their children. We are also disappointed by the behaviour displayed by our learners who destroyed food meant for learners. The School Nutrition Programme plays a vital role in the wellbeing of our learners. As such, it must be treated with respect and remembered as an initiative that is meant to benefit all learners equally,” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.
For more information, contact the Gauteng Department of Education’s Spokesperson, Steve Mabona on 072 574 3860.
*For more updates regarding GDE related news and information, follow us on our website and social media platforms: https://linktr.ee/gautengeducation *
*For media releases, speech and news visit the Gauteng Department of Education’s portal: education.gauteng.gov.za *
