Pupils walk almost 6km to get to school – principal

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Published Jan 16, 2017

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Most of the pupils at St Michael’s Primary School in Grabouw have not been present for the start of the new school term as the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has not provided scholar transport, principal Rehard Smith said.

St Michael’s is a farm school catering for children in rural areas such as Snake Park, who cross the N2 and a “dangerous” bush to and from the school. 

According to Smith, they walk a distance of 5.8km every day. The school has had a transport problem since 2008.

WCED spokesperson Millicent Merton said they were aware of the situation and an administrative process was under way.

“We are still assessing the situation. Once that is done we would be able to provide the school with an answer. Our district officials are in constant contact with the school. We are prioritising the matter,” she said.

Smith said the school was granted transport for a third and fourth term last year on a contract basis. This was after the school governing body had sent a petition and an application to the Overberg District in May. 

He said the school reapplied for a scholar transport in September, but had no response from the WCED.

“Only 100 out of 290 pupils have shown up so far. That means 190, which constitutes 60 percent, have not pitched since the beginning of the school term. And that would result in a decrease to the 92 percent pass rate we achieved last year. I don’t know what is the hold-up here. We applied for transport in September, as we knew two buses we had in the last two terms were on contract,” he said.

Smith said absenteeism was caused by pupils’ fear of being knocked down when crossing the N2 highway and getting robbed or raped which is synonymous with crossing a “dangerous” bush.

“We are talking about 6-year-old Grade R pupils here, who do not know how to look for cars before crossing. Most of them are reluctant to cross the bush because of social ills they have endured in the past. That is why my children have not shown up."

“If lack of transport continues the school might be closed. And that means many children from farms would be deprived of education as most of the schools are full here.”

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