Johannesburg – The Department of Basic Education (DBE) on Wednesday said around 2600 matriculants had missed out on critical preparation for the year-end National Senior Certificate examinations due to the violent community protests in Limpopo.
“In total, of 52 827 learners have been affected by the unrest, however, what is of vital concern is the approximately 2600 Grade 12 learners who have already missed weeks of school as well as their mid-year examinations which are critical in terms of preparations for the year-end National Senior Certificate examinations,” the department said in a statement on the situation in the Vuwani area of Limpopo.
In April, 28 schools were burnt and others vandalised following a court ruling that upheld the Municipal Demarcation Board’s decision to have Vuwani areas incorporated into a new municipality with Malamulele, while protesting community members wanted to remain in Makhado municipality.
The department said several schools have remained closed due to ongoing intimidation and threats of further violence, and said they feared that if schooling did not resume soon learners would have to repeat the academic year. “For the learners who have been at school for at least 12 years and should be preparing to enter tertiary institutions or ready themselves for the world of work this is an unfortunate situation,” the department said.
The efforts of the Inter-ministerial Task Team and the Inter-Ministerial Committee were commended by the department for the tireless work to restore stability to Vuwani. “We are confident that their on-going efforts will yield positive results and will allow the Education Department to move in and implement the catch up and recovery plans that have been prepared.”
They added that they continued to urge parents and community members to take responsibility for the education of the learners and ensure they go back to school as a matter of urgency. “As we head into Youth Day celebrations honouring those who died on June 16 1976 we call on the Vuwani community to remember the sacrifices made by the youth of 1976 to ensure that every child in South Africa has the right to quality basic education.”
African News Agency (ANA)