Cape Town - Formal classes have started for the children who have been attending school in vacant mobile classrooms in Dunoon, but only 86 of the 113 pupils arrived for the first day of lessons on Monday.
The mobile classrooms were “occupied” in early July by a group of parents and other residents who claimed they couldn’t find places for the children in schools in the area because these were full.
Soon after taking over the mobile classrooms, “volunteer” teachers were enlisted by the community to teach the children.
But after a registration drive by the Western Cape Education Department, more than 100 children of compulsory school-going age were formally registered.
The department indicated that qualified teachers would be appointed and resources, including furniture and textbooks, would be provided.
It also indicated that the school would fall under the management of the nearby Sophakama Primary School.
But parents were unhappy with the school falling under the auspices of Sophakama Primary, and last week the Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer announced the school would be managed by the metro north education district until the end of the year.
On Monday, Schäfer’s spokeswoman, Jessica Shelver, said all learning material had been delivered last week while three teachers were appointed over the weekend.
A fourth teacher was expected to be appointed on Monday.
“A total of 86 pupils arrived for teaching and learning.
“Of the 53 Grade 1 pupils, only 28 arrived for the first day of formal school.”
She said the department could not say why some of the pupils had not shown up for class.
“We appeal to parents to bring their children to school so that teaching can begin. Pupils need to be assessed to determine the support they need.”
Cape Argus