Lesufi says parents unwilling to take kids to township schools

As the department of education struggles to find placement for thousands of Grade 1 and Grade 8 pupils for next year, Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says parents are unwilling to take their kids to township schools.

TimesLIVE reported that just over 14 600 pupils were still to receive placement offers and must be placed by the November 30 deadline.

This after 20 "good schools" in Gauteng had reached full capacity on the first day of placements last week.

The department said it was working with “high-pressure zone” schools to increase their classroom capacity to accommodate more pupils.

TimesLIVE reported that the department's spokesperson Steve Mabona said it was also looking at the possibility of placing mobile classrooms in overpopulated areas.

“It is important to note that the department has identified some schools in affected areas which will be helped with the provision of mobile classrooms.

We will also partner with independent schools to accommodate excess learners from our public schools accordingly, in consultation with respective parents,” said Mabona.

Speaking on Power FM, Lesufi said some of the reasons parents don't want to take their kids to schools in the township was because they are located in the townships, despites how good they were.

"Some township schools are doing so well but because they are located in the townships people believe they cannot offer quality education," said Lesufi.

“They are just victims of people believing that because they are in townships their standard is inferior."

Lesufi said even though some of the best results come from school in the townships, parents still think schools in town are better.

He said the department, next year, will introduce grading methods to rate the quality of the schools in Gauteng, adding that the format will help parents see if the school is good.

A number will indicate the education quality of the school with five being excellent and one being bad.