By BAKANG MOKOTO
11 February 2025- Teaching and learning continue to be affected in various schools within the Vaalharts cluster. It is alleged that 15 schools were affected on Tuesday.
According to information, close to 33 schools in Vaalharts cluster such as Kgomotso High School, Olehile Technical Secondary, Pampierstad Secondary, Reitlamile Secondary, Bankdrift Secondary, Tlhwahalang Secondary among others, are at the brink of shutting down due to insufficient funding.
This allegedly irked Vaalharts SGB Forum and prompted them to write numerous letters to the Northern Cape Premier, Zamani Saul and Northern Cape MEC for Education, to address the matter. They allegedly gave them until 6 February 2025, or they threatened to shut down some schools in protest.
The forum alleged that affected schools are in a state of array due to lack of funding.
Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe said in a statement that, indeed 15 schools were affected today, resulting in no teaching or learning taking place. Van der Merwe said although educators reported for duty, no learners were present.
“The district office has instructed principals to issue notices to parents, requesting that they send their children to school starting tomorrow. The department does not condone these negative actions, hence we are in the process of finalizing a court order to obtain an interdict against the SGB Forum and steps are being taken to withdraw the functions of certain SGBs in line with legislation.
“We further appeal to parents and the school community to ensure their children have access to education. The department emphasises that there is no justifiable reason for this disruption,” he said.
The Guardian 