“I told them that I was calling the Laudium Sun, then they quickly allowed most of our kids in…”
Millions of learners throughout the country eagerly started school this past Monday, after having the longest holiday break ever, due to Covid 19. The opening of schools saw many first time learners attending and was welcomed by parents who had to stay at home for months to take care of their kids, as schools remained closed for a longer period, due to the recent surge of the pandemic. However, a number of parents and learners remain despondent as many schools are full to capacity and are not able to accommodate more learners in their classes.
Locally, many parents complained that despite living near schools, their kids could not be enrolled at these schools, due to the school reaching full capacity. Political parties in the area have proven once again, that they are ineffective or do not care for the plight of residents as they remain silent on issues of crime, schooling, housing, etc. The Laudium Sun during it’s visit to schools in the area, this past Monday, being the first day of the new school year, spotted a number of parents and learners outside Laudium Secondary School, who were denied access to the school by security guards. Raazia Dawood, who lives on Marble Street, near Laudium Secondary School, was one of the parents who spoke to the Laudium Sun, “I have been applying to this school since 2019. At first, I was told there was no space for 2020. I accepted it, because I thought they were genuine. Even when I spoke to the Principal, she informed me that the school was full for the grade 9 class. So, last year I had to take my child to a private school, bearing in mind I’m a working parent. I took my child to Al Ghazali College in Erasmia, but I only managed to pay school fees for three months, then he had to sit at home, because I could not afford the fees anymore. I live just a few minutes away from Laudium Secondary School, a state school, but my child is refused the right to education there. During last year, I again applied for my child to register for this year, but I was told again that there was no space. I don’t think the school is fair. They seem to have a prejudice against me or my child. My child is going through a depression because he is sitting at home and can’t go to school, whilst all his friends are in school. Should we not be given priority, as we live near the school which is within the feeder area? Yet, space is given to kids from outside areas. They have violated the constitutional rights of my child. Today (Monday 15), I came to the school with the hope that they would make some space for him, but now we are not even allowed to go inside by the guards. My child is supposed to do grade 9 and there is no space even at Himalaya Secondary School, and I also can’t afford to take him to another school far away, as he will need transport money, which I cannot afford.”
Shaida Ismail, from Brown Street, another parent, who was also spotted outside Laudium Secondary said, “My child was refused the right to learn today, with other children. They had to wait outside this school. What kind of school is this that endangers children’s lives like this, by keeping them out? What if something happened to my child whilst waiting outside? This school does not respect poor pupils. There are many children in White Blocks, who are sitting at home because this school, which is nearby, does not want to take them in. When my child informed me that he was refused entry to the school, I immediately came here. As far as I am concerned, my child was registered to come to this school as he was in the same school the previous year and now going to grade 12. No one was willing to listen to us until I told them that I was calling the Laudium Sun, then they quickly allowed most of our kids in. Thank you to the Laudium Sun. What kind of society are we living in, when poor children are treated as second class citizens in this so called democratic country? What future does this country have if it does not care for the future of it’s children?”
Lizzy Mashele, a parent from Itireleng, who was also waiting outside the school said, “I came to this school last year and signed a green application form, and they promised to come back to me, but they did not. That is why I came here today, but I was not allowed to go in by the guards. I even went to the Department of Basic Education last year to enquire about my application, but no one is willing to help my child. Is it because we are poor? My child is supposed to go to grade 8, what is she going to do now?”
Principal Renitha Singh, of Laudium Secondary School, said, “The school has no space as for now and we advised parents to apply early to avoid such incidents. The school, on average, takes 37 learners per class, and we are now full. Concerning the complaint of the parent who said we refused her child here for over two years. Yes she did apply, but because all her supporting documents were not enclosed, such as the child’s past report, we could not accept the child. We cannot take a child without a past school report. How will we know which class he has progressed to?”
Principal Renitha Singh said the school intake was full. “On average there are already 37 learners per class.”
Lizzy Mashele, of Itireleng said she does not know what to do as her child was refused entry to the school.
Raazia Dawood, who lives near the school, said the school is discriminating against her child.
Learners, many of whom attended Laudium Secondary School last year, wait with parents outside the school as security guards refused them entry. It was only after the Laudium Sun appeared at the scene, that most of the learners were allowed into the school.
