SGB's close Uitenhage schools in protest over teacher shortages

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Monday marked the first day of protracted action by angry and frustrated parents and school governing bodies in the Uitenhage district.

They've effectively closed 16 schools in protest against the shortage of teachers.

Both high and primary schools in the western areas of Uitenhage have been turned into ghost schools, with young learners roaming the streets.

One of the main concerns are a lack of Afrikaans speaking teachers, upgrading of school infrastructure and security problems within the school environment.

The chairperson of the CW Hendricks Primary School governing body, Mervin Arres.

"We are engaging in this action now in order to show the department that we need teachers and we need them now. We are sick and of their promises and we are not going to listen to their promises anymore," he said.

Last month parents at John Walton Senior Seconday school went through the same situation and are supporting parents in this current action.

SGB spokesperson, Windvoel Van Rooyen.

"Today (Monday) our first day of action started whereby we closed all the surrounding primary schools for the safety of the children. We don't want to let them go to school so we're asking the parents to keep them at home. At the senior schools everyone has been locked out."

In a joint action parents and students will take to the streets on Wednesday to protest against what they say is a failing education system.

Congress of South African Students, spokesperson Ntombikayise Tini, says they want officials in the district office to be removed.

"They have been promising to resolve these issues but they are not coming up with anything that is concrete. Instead they run away from us," she said.

Cosas called for the removal of officials from the Department of Education's district office.