Celani Sikhakhane
In June last year parents in Escort, KwaZulu-Natal locked the school gates of the Sahlumbe High School and ordered the teachers to go home.
This was in protest over a lack of water in the area.
On Monday more than 1,200 learners were instructed to stay at home until the Department of Education gave them more teachers.
It appears that during the school closure over water, some teachers took work transfers and left the area, leaving the school with no teachers for grade 8 and lower grades.
Since June last year, grade 8 learners in the area have not attended a single class and the pleas of their parents have fallen on deaf ears.
This week parents decided that learners who were attending classes with volunteer teachers must stay at home.
Mfundo Dladla, a parent who has volunteered as a teacher to teach grades 9,10,11 and 12, said they took the decision that all 1200 learners must stay at home.
“The Department must bring us teachers,” said Dladla.
He says that this is a serious crisis because Sahlumbe services three primary schools as it is the only high school in the area.
KZN Department of Education Spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi couldn’t be reached for comment as his phone rang unanswered.
