Cleaners have been looking after Grade R pupils at a Lentegeur primary school who have not had a proper teacher since the start of the third term, say the children’s parents.
It’s a charge the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) denies, but it admits that Lantana Primary School has been using Grade R teachers who are not qualified.
The parents say the school kept them in the dark about the lack of suitably qualified teaching staff. They say they only received a circular after they questioned the school principal, Vanessa Berry, and the education department.
They are worried about the impact of the staffing problem on their children’s education.
“My daughter does not want to go to school because they are not doing anything,” said parent Khayla Soga. “We were told that the people who used to clean the toilets were now looking after our children.”
She feels the school and the department have shown little urgency in resolving the problem.
“They are taking this matter very lightly. It’s the fourth week of school without a class teacher,” she said.
Another parent, Tarcia Mzileti, said she had sent an email to the school stating her “unhappiness” and “disappointment” and accusing the principal of failing the children.
“Our kids’ education comes first. How can they release a teacher without ascertaining a replacement?”
Ms Mzileti said it was clear from the circular that the school had known, from as early as October last year, that it would have to hire suitably qualified teachers for Grade R classes – replacing those that were not qualified – to become part of the school system – a process known as universalisation.
She said that at first she had not taken her son seriously when he had told her that his class had no teacher.
“Then he said, ‘I miss my teacher. I want my teacher back.’ Then I approached the school. We were not even made aware of the situation.”
She added: “They had more than enough time to find replacements.”
Department spokeswoman Millicent Merton said it was not true that cleaners were teaching the Grade R pupils. However, the school had advertised for two Grade R teaching posts.
“The school has three Grade R classes. Only one of the Grade R teachers is suitably qualified,” she said.
The staff who had been teaching two of the Grade R classes had not completed teaching qualifications and the school governing body had not had funds to keep them on after the second term, she said.
“The school is currently dealing with the appointment of suitably qualified Grade R teachers for the two classes.”
The situation had been explained to parents in a July 25 circular, she said.
Up until yesterday, Tuesday August 1, all three Grade R classes were being taught by a single qualified Grade R teacher, supported by teaching assistants who only helped with the children’s practical work, Ms Merton said.
“These assistants do not teach learners; they assist and supervise learners,” she said.
On Tuesday, Ms Merton notified the Plainsman that an additional qualified Grade R teacher had subsequently started at the school and another one would start today, Wednesday.
According to Ms Merton, Grade R teachers need one of the following qualifications: a National Professional Diploma in Education (NPDE) for foundation phase and proof of five years teaching experience; a Bachelor of Education in foundation phase teaching; a junior primary teacher’s diploma; a diploma in Grade R teaching; or an approved academic qualification (NQF 6/7, which is the equivalent of national diploma) with a postgraduate professional teaching qualification to teach in the foundation phase.
In her letter to parents, Ms Berry agreed that the situation “may not be ideal”, but that it was working temporarily.
“We trust that we will soon find two suitably qualified Grade R educators to fill these two vacant posts,” said the letter. “Please accept my most sincere apology for not having informed you, the parents or guardians, sooner. It was my intention to notify you once the new appointee has been appointed.”
Approached for comment, Ms Berry referred all questions to the WCED.