An education official held hostage by parents, pupils and teachers chased out of schools, overcrowded classrooms and scores of parents still queuing to secure places for their children were just some of the problems encountered in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday.
Where there was no drama, tears flowed from children starting Grade 1. Others embraced the challenge.
At least five schools near Coffee Bay were forced to shut their doors.
Seaview Senior Secondary School principal Jackson Mqeshelwa said protesters forced pupils at Phuthuma, Mhlahlane Senior Primary School, Seaview SPS and his own school to vacate the premises. They demanded electricity.
“They forced the gate open and told pupils to get out and join their protest.”
Disruptions were also reported at Buchule Technical High School in Mdantsane where pupils were sent home for failing to return textbooks last year.
An urgent parents’ meeting was called by principal Siseko Mapekula. “Each year we sit with the problem of missing books that are returned late. We introduced a policy last year saying pupils should leave their textbooks behind after they finish writing exams, but they still didn’t comply.”
At Chumani Primary School in Reeston, East London parents picketed outside and demanded keys to the office that contain the school’s resources. An education development officer was then held hostage by parents for more than two hours.
A teacher, who asked not to be named, said the internal squabbles between the school governing body, parents and teachers led to a complete halt in schooling on Wednesday.
“The parents locked the department’s officials in a classroom. All the resources were locked there, we could not continue with the registration and teaching at the school. The deputy principals left with the keys and the principal is on leave,” the teacher said.
Provincial education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said: “We are aware of what is happening, it was reported and we have undertaken measures to make sure the issue is resolved. Our official has been released and we are happy with the people who have cooperated with us.”
On Wednesday, parents were still queuing at schools in Mthatha and East London to find place for their children.
At Mzimvubu Senior Primary in Ngangelizwe more than 50 parents stood in line between 8am and 9am, said learner-teacher support material co-ordinator Nothuthuzelo Gwenxane. She said the queues would likely continue until Friday.
“The issue is some parents still don’t take the education of their children seriously,” she said.
But it was not all bad news.
Excited Cambridge Preparatory School pupil Zingce Mgodeli, 5, said he was looking forward to having fun, learning, drawing and making friends in big school.
AW Barnes and Parkside Primary Schools were also abuzz with activity as young pupils settled down for their first day of school.
At Parkside, emotions ran high for five-year-old Kungamandla Seyisi when she had to say goodbye to her mother.
She clung to her mother, Siphosethu, tearfully.
Education MEC Mlungisi Mvoko visited Mdantsane’s first senior high school, Mzomhle High.
He congratulated the school on their 34% pass mark improvement...