GEORGE NEWS - The Western Cape Education Department responds to various questions:
Stander Street open property
Q: It is generally believed that the open area opposite Geneva Retirement Village in Stander Street in George has been earmarked for a new school. Is this the case?
A: The WCED Infrastructure Planning Directorate does not have record of this land option.
'Buying' of learners
Q: Some schools 'buy' learners from other schools, for example, learners from Gymnasium High in Oudtshoorn are bought by Outeniqua High in George. There is a perception that these learners impair opportunities for placement of others who live in the town of the school that is buying learners.
A: The schools, nor the WCED, has record of this allegation.
Private schools applications
Q: How many applications for the building of new public and private schools has the department turned down in the past five years, and what were the reasons for that?
A: We do not build private schools. We have or are addressing all requests that have been made to us.
Parents moving to Garden Route
Q: Some parents who find work and move to the Garden Route find themselves in a dilemma when their children cannot get placed in a school. What should children who move here from other provinces do in such a case?
A: All learners have been placed for the 2023 school year. For the 2024 school year, it is extremely premature to indicate that learners have not been "placed" as the placement process is still underway. Any learners that have not yet applied for schooling in the Western Cape should do so immediately so we can have their name on record and place them accordingly.
No placement yet
Q: What should parents do whose children still don't have a placement?
A: The process for placement is still underway. Schools are finalising their admission lists and contacting parents when they have placement availability as a result of learners accepting alternative placement at other schools.
Thembalethans' preferences
Q: Is the perceived trend true that parents from the Thembalethu neighbourhood in George prefer to place their children in former Model C schools?
A: The department cannot comment on this. This is a personal decision they make, as they have the opportunity to apply at any school in the province, as we do not have feeder zones. Their application, however, will be subject to the admission policy of the school. Some schools are more popular than others. This is seen in the province, country and the world over.
Q: There is also the perception that the Thembalethu schools are not experiencing the same overcrowding as other schools. Is there still space in these schools for next year?
A: The admission process is still underway. Schools are still finalising lists. This should be completed within the next month, thereafter, we will have a clear idea as to where there may be spaces available.
Learners with autism in Knysna
Q: At present schoolchildren with special needs have to travel from Knysna and Plettenberg Bay to George. Are there any plans to establish a special needs school in either Knysna or Plettenberg Bay?
A: The expansion of 2 classrooms for Knysna Primary School to accommodate learners with autism is underway.
New Concordia Primary School
Q: Will the new Concordia Primary School premises in Knysna have greater capacity than the current one? Will it be open by the 2024 school year?
A: The current enrolment at Concordia Primary school is 963 which includes 60 Grade R learners. The new school will have a capacity of 1 120 Grade 1 to 7 learners and 120 Grade R learners. Total capacity: 1 240.
The school will have 4 Grade R classrooms, 28 ordinary classrooms, 1 resource classrooms, 1 multi-purpose classroom, 1 science laboratory, 1 multi-media centre and 1 school hall. The school will not be ready for the start of the school year.
Unfortunately, community disruption has halted our anticipated completion. This is unfortunate and sad, given that it is for the benefit of the learners within that community.
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