Tensions rose at an East London primary school yesterday when more than 50 parents, who claimed they had secured places for their children, were turned away.An urgent meeting was held at St Johns Road Primary School yesterday after parents alleged they were last year led to believe their children’s applications had been accepted, only to be told otherwise this week.
Phumla Gxwala said she’d been excited that her daughter Asiphekhona would start big school today. But her hopes were dashed when she arrived and enquired about the banking details, only to be told her child was not on the list.
“We were all prepared for our daughter to start big school on Wednesday after we were verbally told by the school in December that we were taken in, and that space had not filled up.
“This week when I went to enquire about the school’s banking details, ready to pay school fees, I was told that our application was not successful and nobody could elaborate on how or why, despite having applied early last year and being told we were successful.”
An emotional Gxwala said she had already bought the school uniform and stationery, which she knew would be required.
“Even when I was told my application was successful, I had been the one coming to the school every time. I came to town and they would say it’s too early or there were no developments, until eventually they told me all were taken.
“All the times I was going to the school and now they are telling me this.”
The Daily Dispatch visited the school yesterday and sat in on the meeting minutes before the principal walked out, leaving school governing body chairman Dan Bolman to address the disgruntled parents. He told them no correspondence on an application did not mean they had been accepted at the school.
“Yes, there has been an oversight on our part because we failed to inform those who applied that their applications had been rejected, but I can’t apply for a director position and just because I don’t hear anything, wear a nice suit because now I’m a director.”
Bolman dismissed allegations that any parent without a written letter or SMS was accepted by the school. He said the teacher: pupil ratio was already 1:40.
“Although we cannot take all the children, their names will be forwarded to the district office so that they know how many children still need to be placed.”
Another parent, Thembekazi Dyantyi, said the school had raised their hopes when they urged parents to come to the school and pay their application fees even though they knew they were full.
“If you know how many children you can accommodate, why did you continue giving out application forms and collecting application fees instead of saying from then that the school is closed and recommending that parents apply else where,” asked Dyantyi.
She said the school seemed to be more interested in fundraising than recruiting.
Education spokesman Mali Mtima said the department was unaware of the debacle at the school, but would send a team to investigate.
“After hearing of this for the first time from the inquiry made by the Daily Dispatch, the district admission team was notified and is due to visit the school this week,” said Mtima. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Dismayed parents find kids out in the cold
An urgent meeting was held at St Johns Road Primary School yesterday after parents alleged they were last year led to believe their children’s applications had been accepted, only to be told otherwise this week.
Phumla Gxwala said she’d been excited that her daughter Asiphekhona would start big school today. But her hopes were dashed when she arrived and enquired about the banking details, only to be told her child was not on the list.
“We were all prepared for our daughter to start big school on Wednesday after we were verbally told by the school in December that we were taken in, and that space had not filled up.
“This week when I went to enquire about the school’s banking details, ready to pay school fees, I was told that our application was not successful and nobody could elaborate on how or why, despite having applied early last year and being told we were successful.”
An emotional Gxwala said she had already bought the school uniform and stationery, which she knew would be required.
“Even when I was told my application was successful, I had been the one coming to the school every time. I came to town and they would say it’s too early or there were no developments, until eventually they told me all were taken.
“All the times I was going to the school and now they are telling me this.”
The Daily Dispatch visited the school yesterday and sat in on the meeting minutes before the principal walked out, leaving school governing body chairman Dan Bolman to address the disgruntled parents. He told them no correspondence on an application did not mean they had been accepted at the school.
“Yes, there has been an oversight on our part because we failed to inform those who applied that their applications had been rejected, but I can’t apply for a director position and just because I don’t hear anything, wear a nice suit because now I’m a director.”
Bolman dismissed allegations that any parent without a written letter or SMS was accepted by the school. He said the teacher: pupil ratio was already 1:40.
“Although we cannot take all the children, their names will be forwarded to the district office so that they know how many children still need to be placed.”
Another parent, Thembekazi Dyantyi, said the school had raised their hopes when they urged parents to come to the school and pay their application fees even though they knew they were full.
“If you know how many children you can accommodate, why did you continue giving out application forms and collecting application fees instead of saying from then that the school is closed and recommending that parents apply else where,” asked Dyantyi.
She said the school seemed to be more interested in fundraising than recruiting.
Education spokesman Mali Mtima said the department was unaware of the debacle at the school, but would send a team to investigate.
“After hearing of this for the first time from the inquiry made by the Daily Dispatch, the district admission team was notified and is due to visit the school this week,” said Mtima. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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