The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says they do not know about 900 learners that have not been placed at schools for the 2022 school year.
The comment comes after a community leader from Uitsig, Ravensmead, said more than 900 learners have not been placed at schools for the current year.
According to Pastor Adam Alexander, community leader, a meeting was held at his church in Kirkwoord Street on 29 September.
“During the meeting I found out that some children have been struggling to get into schools for the past two years. More than 900 children have not been placed. We are worried that these children will get involved in gangsterism if they are not placed,” says Alexander.
Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED, says every learner that they were aware of was placed for the current school year.
“We have placed all learners for 2022 that have been brought to our attention. I am definitely not aware of 900 learners. So no, I cannot see that as true, unless a whole community came from somewhere else and positioned themselves in the last few days in Ravensmead,” says Hammond.
Hammond says the WCED had given schools until the end of the third term to finalise applications.
“That is currently being processed and we expect to release something next week. So unfortunately I cant give figures currently. We have advertised publicly for all learners not placed in 2022 to come forward to the district office. We certainly are not aware of 900. This list must then be presented to us,” says Hammond.
