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The Democratic Alliance will be raising serious concerns on the poor
implementation of school policies to the department of Education when
it tables its annual performance plan on 21 April 2015.

We are specifically concerned about the implementation of the
Admission Policy for Ordinary Public Schools, which is clear that
children may not be denied their right to education. From the start of
the school year, we have heard parents raising concerns that their
children are being denied access to schools.

I have first-hand information of how the department plays with the
future of our young learners. During a school visit to Pescodia High
School this morning, I found that the school had been refusing
admission to a grade 10 learner. She had been enrolled in the school
at the beginning of the year and had intended to transfer to Hopetown.
Due to the personal circumstances of her family, this intention
changed and she came back. However, Pescodia High School did not want
to enrol her again.

Fortunately, Homevale Senior Secondary School was willing and able to
accommodate the learner. While Pescodia High School said that its
class size of 46 was too big to accommodate the learner, Homevale
Senior Secondary School was willing to accommodate her in a class of
52 learners.

These ratios of learners to educators is simply too high and it is
difficult to see how teaching and learning can take place.

We will be raising our concerns with the department to hear how these
matters will be addressed. We will be using this platform to engage
with the department on how they monitor the implementation of
admission policies. The principals and schools have to deal with
parents and learners on a daily basis while the department ducks and
dives. We are mindful of the fact that some principals go out of their
way to make ends meet, but it is clear that the department is not
coming to the party.

Issued by DA