Education department in the EC condemns closure of schools

Lusanda Bill

22 July 2015

The Eastern Cape Department of Education has condemned the action by parents in Port Elizabeth who have closed down about 23 schools.

The parents are demanding additional teachers.

Departmental Spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said since April about 122 educators have been dispatched to the northern area and 60 of them were taken to Afrikaans schools only.

Mtima said the department has been engaging with parents to resolve this issue. The difficulty the parents are putting on the department is really uncalled for, because the grandstanding they are doing is against what we have been talking about with them.

“Unfortunately what the parents have opted to do is to intimidate other schools to close down asking them to pledge solidarity with them. We are aware of the 23 schools that have been closed down it could be less than 10 schools that still need educators” Mtima added.