LETTER: Why bother applying with no guarantee?

As a parent residing in the Helderberg, I’m confronted with the unsettling reality that there may not be a local high school available for my child in Grade 8 in 2025.

This issue extends beyond high schools to primary schools as well. The heartbreak of informing my Grade 7 son that he wasn’t accepted into any of the three high schools we applied to was overwhelming. It’s disheartening to know he won’t be joining his close friends – the ones he shares cricket and rugby games with – at high school.

It begs the question: why go through the application process for three schools when there’s no guarantee of placement? What is the criteria for acceptance into local schools? I know of non South African citizens being accepted at a local high school.

Our town is witnessing the demolition of single-family homes to make way for multi-unit apartments and flats, exacerbating the existing congestion. Despite this, such plans receive daily approval from the municipality. Notable developments include the proposed development (old Manuka) on the corner of Main Road and Dummer Street, and the Willowbrook Lodge off Lourensford Road, where I’ve learned 36 flats are planned.

This surge in housing raises a critical concern: where will the influx of children attend school? Beaumont Primary School is already at capacity. It’s perplexing and frustrating to see our town allow such growth without the necessary infrastructure.

Who is sanctioning these constructions? Our sewerage systems are already under severe pressure, evidenced by the recent closure of Parel Vallei High School due to sewage problems.

I recognise the need for development, but it must be balanced with the community’s needs. As residential developments and shopping malls rise the question remains, where are the new government schools?

Schools should be a priority, in my view, over yet another shopping centre. It’s essential that our town’s growth includes educational facilities to accommodate our children, ensuring a balanced and sustainable future for our community.

How many parents are facing the challenge of their children not being accepted into local high schools, and what are the available solutions? It appears that the education department is not addressing this issue.

Faced with the dilemma of not having a high school for my child, what steps can I take? I have been advised to consider schools beyond the Helderberg area, but is this the only option?

Chrystal Gallagher,

Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the provincial education department, responds: Schools are currently finalising their admission lists, confirming placements for children on their waiting lists. This process is ongoing. If parents still do not have a place for their child later this year, the department will assist them with placement options. The department’s Directorate for Physical Resources Planning and Property Management comprises town planners, engineers and architects that assist with the identification of education provisioning needs, by consulting municipal planning and other data sources. Municipal Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs), Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), demographic data and housing pipelines are all examples of data sets that inform our education provisioning planning. Infrastructure development also depends on the demand in all areas, as well as available budget, land availability and resource provisioning. We have had challenges with available budget in recent years, with cuts to infrastructure spending due to Covid-19 and fiscal pressures. We have, however, endeavoured to build schools and address demand when budget is available. Earlier this year, National Treasury made an additional provisional allocation of R2,549 billion to our Rapid School Build programme, following our application for funding. This provisional allocation over three financial years is a massive vote of confidence for our Rapid School Build programme. We have demonstrated our ability to spend infrastructure funding effectively, a crucial factor in receiving the funds. In the past 10 years these new schools were built in the Helderberg: Nomzamo Primary, Nomzamo High, False Bay Primary and Lwandle High.A new primary school, the first part of the Lwandle Education Precinct, will be ready at the start of the 2025 school year while the new high school will be ready for the 2026 academic year. A high school in Sir Lowry’s Pass has also been planned. This letter was also sent to the City of Cape Town for comment, but no response was received at the time of going to print. DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette undertakes to publish the comment once forthcoming. – Ed.