Two weeks after the new school year kicked off, some grade 10 learners from Tsitsikamma remained directionless after an apparent misunderstanding about a high school being provided for the area.
Ongoing talks about converting the Tsitsikamma Primary School to a fully functional high school seemed to have parents confused, as some parents did not apply for grade 10 admission elsewhere believing that their children would be accommodated this year.
Due to this uncertainty about where to place the Grade 10 learners, who would normally have enrolled in other centers, schooling was interrupted countless times last week.
According to DA MP, Horatio Hendricks, calls for a high school in the Tsitsikamma community dates 30 years back as the only available and accessible schools (Plettenberg Bay and Humansdorp Senior Secondary Schools) were at a distance of more than 70km and 80km, respectively.
With the establishment of RDP settlements, it was agreed by the community that the high school should be built in Nompumelelo Village, however, this too never materialised.
Hendricks said the confusion about Tsitsikamma Primary being converted to a high school is a recent one after a letter stating that the school would be upgraded was circulated on social media.
"Upon my inquiry, Tsitsikamma Primary School did not receive the said letter and without being part of formal discussions in this regard for the official closure of Tsitsikamma Primary School," he said.
Hendricks explains that on Monday 15 January, instructions were given by departmental officials that primary school learners should not attend school on Wednesday when the academic calendar kicked off, and that instead, grade 10 learners should be allowed to register even though Tsitsikamma Secondary School was not officially registered with the Department of Basic Education.
On Wednesday both learners of Tsitsikamma Primary School and prospective Grade 10 learners arrived at school and the principal was left to deal with the situation.
Registration of Grade 10 learners proceeded while the Primary School learners were in class for teaching. Parents of the Primary School Learners also turned up at school to show their disappointment about the situation that arose.
While things have now returned to normal at the Tsitsikamma Primary School, one frustrated parent and SGB member, Rodney Heugh, said his daughter was now sitting at home and not getting the education she deserves.
"Most of the parents here are unemployed and do not have the financial means for our children to attend schools in other towns."
Algoa FM News has reached out to the department and is awaiting a response.
