ELSIES MOM FIGHTS FOR SON'S SCHOOL PLACEMENT

Overcrowding leaves learners waiting years for nearby placement

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

A CAPE Town mother has appealed to Premier Alan Winde and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and watchdogs after her son was rejected by six schools for placement for Grade 8 three years ago and is still battling to have him transferred to a closer location despite over 500 emails and visits made.

The mother is one of many battling to find placement for their children at public schools across the province.

The WCED said in their bid to remedy the issue of space and placement, they are in the process of building 29 schools as admissions for Grade R, Grade 1 and 8 ended in June.

By May the department confirmed they received late applications for 8 603 learners for the respective grades, bringing the total number of learners applied for to 173 872.

The online window for transfer applications for Grades 2 to 7 and 9 to 12 was opened on August 4 and closed on August 18.

The department stated that transfer applications for learners who have reached their highest grade in their school, or whose parents have relocated, would be prioritised.

Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED said the process for placement was still not complete and could not provide the latest numbers.

"The department has only just started their phase of the placement process. This includes verifying available places at schools based on their admission lists," she told Cape Argus.