No teachers? No school: Parents shut ‘overcrowded’ Lavis primary
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PROTESTING: Parents shut Bishop Lavis Primary School PROTESTING: Parents shut Bishop Lavis Primary School
A Cape Flats school has been shut for three days in a row as angry parents demand the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) appoint two more teachers to attend to overcrowded classrooms.
Hundreds of parents and pupils locked the gates at Bishop Lavis Primary School on Monday, preventing staff and pupils from entering until the WCED heeded their call.
NO CLASS: The school has been shut for three days in a row. Picture supplied
Monique Abrahams of the School Governing Body (SGB) says despite making a request for additional teachers in September last year they had still not received a response from the WCED, causing an uproar among parents.
“The Grade 4 and Grade 7 classes are overcrowded with an average of 54 children to one teacher,” says Abrahams.
“The situation is so bad that the principal himself has to abdicate his duties in managing the school and teach so the teachers don’t take so much strain.
“We were told that the school had made the list for two teachers but then
nothing happened.
“In the meantime, children are struggling to learn in the packed classrooms and the overworked teachers are complaining.”
DEMANDS: Parents and learners say teacher to pupil ratio is 54:1and want two teachers. Picture supplied
On Monday, the protesters were told they would get answers by 2pm that day but no response was received from the WCED.
They have since returned each day and have refused to allow the school to operate.
“So we go back each day and shut the school until they come and talk to us,” says Abrahams.
WCED spokesperson,
Bronagh Hammond, says the department has been in
contact with the school about the request for more teachers.
“Many schools request additional teaching posts, and we have to allocate where there is the greatest demand,” she says.
“The school received two more posts between the 2019 and 2020 educator
establishments.
“They currently have a post to learner allocation of 1:40.
“There is currently a submission en route for an additional teaching post. Therefore we are waiting for the outcome of this application.
“Disrupting teaching and learning time further adds nothing to this process and is only harmful to the learners.”
NO ENTRY: Gates to the school are locked. Picture supplied
But Abrahams says parents feel the WCED is not taking them seriously.
“Our children are being prejudiced and the teaching conditions will have an impact on the results,” she explains.
“As parents, we feel like we are forced to shut the school so the department can listen and take action.
“Parents met again and have agreed we will shut the school every day until there is a positive outcome.
“We will also reach out to parents of other schools who are facing the same problems with overcrowding.”