21-09-2014, 06:43 PM
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the law must take its course against protesters in Kuruman, Northern Cape, who have prevented learners from attending school.
A group calling themselves the Road Forum began protesting in Kuruman in June. The group wants a 130-km stretch of road in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality be tarred.
The protesters have stopped learners and educators from going to school and some school buildings have been burned. Reports from the province say 16 000 learners at 54 schools are affected. Of these, 496 are matrics.
At a media briefing on Sunday, Minister Motshekga said it was unacceptable for learners to be used as bargaining chips in protests.
The briefing followed a meeting of the Council of Education Ministers.
“We have opened criminal cases against those people who are preventing learners from going to school.
“The meeting was extremely disturbed by the number of community protests that have negatively impacted on education in various parts of the country, including Kuruman, Grabouw and Sterkspruit, among others.
“We urge communities to take ownership of schools and protect them no matter what. Education must be prioritised above all else,†said Minister Motshekga.
Matrics in Kuruman will not be able to sit for the upcoming finals, but will instead write their matric exams in March 2015.
The province has provided a detailed catch-up and recovery plan for all the schools if learners are permitted to return to school and resume the normal teaching and learning programme.
Support for learners
Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has asked for intensified learner support in communities where service delivery protests have disrupted schooling.
Chairperson of the Committee, Nomalungelo Gina, said the manner in which learners have been compromised is concerning.
“The committee understands the issues the communities are raising, but realising them should not be at the expense of our children’s education.
“Infrastructure, water and houses are all delivery aspects that spheres of government are working hard to achieve and realise,†Gina said.
“Education, especially for children who are from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, should be a priority. This Parliament will not compromise on this, and will do all possible to ensure a better life for all and that South Africa - whether rural or urban - is a literate nation,†she said.
The committee will this week go on a fact-finding visit to the two districts - John Taolo Gaetsewe in the Northern Cape and Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape.
Gina urged officials to assist learners in any way possible. – SAnews.gov.za
A group calling themselves the Road Forum began protesting in Kuruman in June. The group wants a 130-km stretch of road in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality be tarred.
The protesters have stopped learners and educators from going to school and some school buildings have been burned. Reports from the province say 16 000 learners at 54 schools are affected. Of these, 496 are matrics.
At a media briefing on Sunday, Minister Motshekga said it was unacceptable for learners to be used as bargaining chips in protests.
The briefing followed a meeting of the Council of Education Ministers.
“We have opened criminal cases against those people who are preventing learners from going to school.
“The meeting was extremely disturbed by the number of community protests that have negatively impacted on education in various parts of the country, including Kuruman, Grabouw and Sterkspruit, among others.
“We urge communities to take ownership of schools and protect them no matter what. Education must be prioritised above all else,†said Minister Motshekga.
Matrics in Kuruman will not be able to sit for the upcoming finals, but will instead write their matric exams in March 2015.
The province has provided a detailed catch-up and recovery plan for all the schools if learners are permitted to return to school and resume the normal teaching and learning programme.
Support for learners
Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has asked for intensified learner support in communities where service delivery protests have disrupted schooling.
Chairperson of the Committee, Nomalungelo Gina, said the manner in which learners have been compromised is concerning.
“The committee understands the issues the communities are raising, but realising them should not be at the expense of our children’s education.
“Infrastructure, water and houses are all delivery aspects that spheres of government are working hard to achieve and realise,†Gina said.
“Education, especially for children who are from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, should be a priority. This Parliament will not compromise on this, and will do all possible to ensure a better life for all and that South Africa - whether rural or urban - is a literate nation,†she said.
The committee will this week go on a fact-finding visit to the two districts - John Taolo Gaetsewe in the Northern Cape and Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape.
Gina urged officials to assist learners in any way possible. – SAnews.gov.za