Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Kuruman pupils will repeat grades

Oscar Thomas
05 November 2014

The Democratic Alliance says the Department of Basic Education has failed learners in Kuruman. 

This is after the department in the Northern Cape announced that over 15 000 pupils in Grade R to 11 will have to repeat the grades because they missed out on too much schooling due to the protest actions in June. 

DA MP of Basic Education Annette Lovermore said the law on this matter is clear it is a criminal offence to prevent children from going to school.

Lovermore said the response received to a question to the Minister of Police provides no level of confidence that any action will be taken.

Lovermore said The Northern Cape Education Department faces a difficult time next year, and for at least 12 years hence, with double the numbers in Grade R and Grade 1 in the schools in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

Lovermore said This is incomparable, however, to the opportunities lost by the children of John Taolo Gaetsewe District.

“The DA will not rest until those responsible are brought to book Lovermore added.

Meanwhile the Departments Troy Martens said pupils from Grade R to 12 however matriculatants will not have to repeat the whole year. 

Over 54 schools in different villages in the province have been affected by the strikes which started in June.

Martens said this was not an easy decision to make.

Martens said all those learners will have to repeat those grades because they missed out on too much work.

Martens said they missed pretty much half of the year.

Martens said the parents ignored our pleas. It’s an unfortunate situation but we can’t pass all of them to the next grade.

Martens said we have got the matriculants in an intense remedial programme. They will write supplementary exams in March next year.

Martens said this is a very unusual situation so we had to make arrangements for them.

“In September, the pupils were deregistered for this year’s matric examination so they could prepare for the supplementary exams Martens added.

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