MIDDELBURG – Middelburg Hoërskool (MHS) and Hoër Tegniese Skool (HTS) have finally succumbed to pressure from parents demanding placement for their children.
Eighteen (18) learners were placed at MHS and 14 at HTS following a two-week-long tussle that included a series of peaceful demonstrations at the schools’ gates by parents determined to secure space for their children.
This exerted enough pressure on the Department of Education, which intervened by convincing the schools to reconsider their decision to deny the learners admission.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), through its back-to-school #UmntwanaEsikoleni campaign, also stepped in, increasing the pressure.
“We have started with this thing. We have placed learners in different schools across all grades so far, but we took decisive action against MHS. Learners were placed, and they are starting this week because a Grade 8 class has been established. Congratulations to all those learners who will be starting there because the school finally agreed to enrol them,” said EFF Chief Whip Joseph Ngubeni.
Ngubeni, who is also a member of the mayoral council for public safety, added that the fight was not yet over.
“We continued the struggle at HTS, which was also rejecting these learners. Today [ February 07], we have 14 learners who are going to be placed,” he said.
One of the parents, Ntokozo Mogashoa, expressed gratitude.
“We thank the EFF for the big supporting role they played. If it weren’t for them, the management of the school wouldn’t have been shaken. Without you, the Department of Education would still be relaxed, and these learners wouldn’t have been at school,” he said.
The Department of Education also provided an update on the placement of learners in the province.
“All the learners have been placed, and the admission committee is currently dealing with relocation cases and learners from private schools whose parents are unable to pay their tuition,” department spokesperson Gerald Sambo told the paper on Friday afternoon.
