In an attempt to have their grievances heard a group of parents made their way to the Education Department office in Vredenburg on Tuesday 6 August.
The parents of learners from HP Williams School in St Helena Bay are upset about the current situation with regard to the bus transport of the children from Hopland and George Kerridge to school. As one parent explained to Weslander, changes have been made to where the pick-up point of the learners will be and this is concerning to them.
“The new pick-up point is far away from the previous point where our children have been picked up for years. As it is winter it is not safe for our children and for ourselves.
“It is dark and there are skollies around. We went to the new pick-up point on Friday 2 August at the four-way to have a look and realised children of Smartie Town are still being picked up at the old point. We want to know why.”
According to Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson of the Western Cape Education Department, the previous contractor did not pick the learners up at the approved pick-up point, which is the four-way crossing, on the corner Kootjieskloof and South Bypass.
The new contractor is abiding by the contract. The four-way crossing is roughly 2,5 km from the previous point that was used.” Parents, however, do not agree and say it is kilometres away.
Parents are also concerned about the overcrowding of the bus and the safety of their children during transportation.
Hammond said regarding capacity, 125 learners have been approved to be transported on this route. “The contractor uses two buses. They have brought it to our attention that parents are demanding additional learners be transported on this route.”
Hammond said the school had applied for additional learners to be added onto the route, but until this was approved no learner could be transported until approval had been granted.
“The contractor has engaged with the principal regarding this. A supervisor and a Grade 7 learner had been assigned to support with monitoring on the two buses.”
