SCHOOLING at a Queenstown high school has stopped for the past two weeks due to a shortage of teachers, including a maths teacher for Grade 12.
Siyaphakama acting high school principal Vuyisile Haga confirmed yesterday that his 635 pupils have refused to return to class since last Monday, following the department’s failure to appoint a maths and science teacher for Grade 12.
In 2012, parents decided to appoint a maths teacher and fund the post themselves, but this year parents ran out of money, “and the post has been vacant since the beginning of the year,” said Haga.
He said the Grade 12s have not had maths lessons since the beginning of the year.
The department advertised the post in February. The school governing body sped up the process and appointed a teacher to teach both maths and science.
“But on our return from the Easter holidays, there was no word from the department on whether the suitable candidate would join the department or not,” said Haga.
The department’s spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said they have tried to find a candidate for the maths position from the pool of excess teachers “to no avail.
“The district has now received a go ahead to look into the short- listed candidates and appoint a teacher for that post,” said Pulumni.
The vacancies at the school were brought to light two months ago when members of the portfolio education committee visited schools in Nkwankca municipality, which includes Sterkstroom .
Haga told the committee he was overworked because he was managing the school, and teaching several other subject to make up for vacant posts.
Only three matrics passed from a class of 26 in 2012.
Portfolio committee member Michael Peter promised to bring the matter to the attention of the education MEC Mandla Makupula.
But a parent at the school, Nosiphiwo Sam, said since the committee’s visit in February, nothing had changed .
Sam, who has three children at the school, said two other teachers resigned at the end of the first term – the head of department (HOD) for languages, and the economics teacher for grades 9 to 12.
She said pupils ran out of patience last Monday and refused to return to class until all the vacant positions were filled.
Their hopes were raised on Thursday when the Queenstown district office promised a senior official would address the pupils and parents at 9am. No one came.
Pulumani said the district would be able to fill the other two vacancies, as there were several “excess” teachers who could be moved to fill the two positions.
He said the circuit manager was on his way to Siyaphakama to update the parents, at a meeting scheduled for yesterday. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
Queenstown school shut over too few teachers
Siyaphakama acting high school principal Vuyisile Haga confirmed yesterday that his 635 pupils have refused to return to class since last Monday, following the department’s failure to appoint a maths and science teacher for Grade 12.
In 2012, parents decided to appoint a maths teacher and fund the post themselves, but this year parents ran out of money, “and the post has been vacant since the beginning of the year,” said Haga.
He said the Grade 12s have not had maths lessons since the beginning of the year.
The department advertised the post in February. The school governing body sped up the process and appointed a teacher to teach both maths and science.
“But on our return from the Easter holidays, there was no word from the department on whether the suitable candidate would join the department or not,” said Haga.
The department’s spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said they have tried to find a candidate for the maths position from the pool of excess teachers “to no avail.
“The district has now received a go ahead to look into the short- listed candidates and appoint a teacher for that post,” said Pulumni.
The vacancies at the school were brought to light two months ago when members of the portfolio education committee visited schools in Nkwankca municipality, which includes Sterkstroom .
Haga told the committee he was overworked because he was managing the school, and teaching several other subject to make up for vacant posts.
Only three matrics passed from a class of 26 in 2012.
Portfolio committee member Michael Peter promised to bring the matter to the attention of the education MEC Mandla Makupula.
But a parent at the school, Nosiphiwo Sam, said since the committee’s visit in February, nothing had changed .
Sam, who has three children at the school, said two other teachers resigned at the end of the first term – the head of department (HOD) for languages, and the economics teacher for grades 9 to 12.
She said pupils ran out of patience last Monday and refused to return to class until all the vacant positions were filled.
Their hopes were raised on Thursday when the Queenstown district office promised a senior official would address the pupils and parents at 9am. No one came.
Pulumani said the district would be able to fill the other two vacancies, as there were several “excess” teachers who could be moved to fill the two positions.
He said the circuit manager was on his way to Siyaphakama to update the parents, at a meeting scheduled for yesterday. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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