Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi held a media briefing on Tuesday, 14 January 2020, at the department’s auditorium in Johannesburg. The briefing concerned the re-opening of schools as well as the late registrations and appeals that are looming. As parents expressed a sense of frustration concerning some of their kids, in grades 1 and 8, not being placed in a school of their choice, the department tried to counter the situation.
MEC Lesufi stated that pupils who were not accepted at their schools of choice would be accommodated at a different school that still had vacancies. The child’s proximity from the school would also be taken into consideration. Parents were given an opportunity to appeal these placements but the vast majority was left disappointed. “700 parents have made an appeal and some of them were upheld while the majority were unfortunately not”, stated MEC Lesufi.
In the midst of this issue with some families grappling with their placement appeals Lesufi also mentioned that a new school would be opened in Noordgesig on Wednesday 15 January. This school was opened as part of their programme to eradicate mud schools or schools that were built with inappropriate substances.
“This school was built with asbestos as part of the 29 schools that the department has committed to eradicate by 2023/2024 financial year”, said Lesufi. He further mentioned that there are other schools that are currently in construction and within this particular sector of being built with asbestos.
The MEC concluded by assuring the press that there isn’ta single child who has not been placed in a school after having applied online.
