The chair of the school governing body (SGB) of a primary school in Bothasig says they are aware of the inconvenience that the time the school opens its gates are causing parents.
The body and school principal says they are trying to accommodate as many parents as possible regarding this matter.
TygerBurger reported on the issue at Wolraad Woltemade Primary School in Adam Tas Drive, Bothasig, last week.
In the report several parents raised their concerns at the time the gates are opened in the morning.
They claim that since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the gates only open at 07:30, but that learners arrive much earlier. They also claim that the children are forced to wait on the side of the road unsupervised.
“Our gates have always opened at 07:30 during summer. Screening is done at different points for specific grades and thereafter learners are allowed on the playground. Parents who dropped learners off at 06:30 and 07:00 always had their own private arrangements with community facilities,” says Steve Cloete, SGB chair.
Parents say they were informed that the teaching staff only work from 07:40 onwards and that is why the gates open at the appointed time.
“Educators usually arrive at work earlier than 07:30 in the morning because allocated educators have to do playground duty once learners are allowed on the school premises. The rest of the staff meet in the staff room from 07:40 to 07:50 for the morning meeting, devotion and announcements.”
Cloete also responded to the parents’ claims that the security guard on site does not look after the learners.
“The guard unfortunately cannot look after the children, because it is not in their job description. The school will be held accountable if anything happens to a child under the care of the security guards,” he says.
Two of the parents who spoke on the basis of anonymity says at one point parents were asked to pay R20 per hour per child should their children be allowed inside.
To this Cloete responded: “We have established a morning care facility to accommodate our parents who needed to drop off children at 06:30 and 07:00 in the mornings. Educators unfortunately could not be on duty that early because they have their own children and, or families to drop off at their respective schools, day mothers, etcetera.
“One of our parents offered her services at a minimal fee of R20 per day for supervision during morning care. Parents are not charged R20 to allow children to enter the premises. All those parents who communicated their unhappiness with the school arrangement are now making use of the school’s morning care facility,” Cloete says.
He says they are certain they will reach a consensus regarding this issue. Cloete adds that at this moment there are many logistics to consider, but that they aim to accommodate everyone’s needs.
