Nerina Heyneke’s son informed her that he and three other pupils had to leave the school grounds at 3pm one afternoon so that the gate could be locked.
“How can the school just put children on the street? Most of the days, I only pass the school after 5pm,” says Heyneke.
“I’m currently working in Alberton and my son’s school is in Boksburg, so I can’t be there at 3pm to pick him up and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
“I really think this is unacceptable for a child of 11 to sit on the side-walk for more than two hours in the times we are living in today.”
According to the Gauteng Department of Education’s spokesperson, Phumla Sekhonyane, the South African Schools Act (Sasa) leaves the function of determining the times of the school day in the hands of the School Governing Body.
Sekhonyane says the department is aware that some parents have raised concerns about this arrangement and will facilitate a meeting between the school and the concerned parents to find a sustainable solution.
Sekhonyane says that the decision was taken by the school in the interest of the safety of learners, so that children will be supervised within the school premises between 7am and 3pm.
“Parents were urged to make alternative arrangements outside of these hours,” says Sekhonyane.
Heyneke’s son does attend an aftercare centre outside the school premises, but on this specific day he did not attend due to his rugby practice.
Another mother also complained about the school gates only opening at 7am in the mornings, which causes many children to wait outside of the premises until someone eventually opens the gate at 7am.
Sekhonyane says the school has in the meantime requested a teacher to start at 6am, and has procured the services of a guard for the afternoon as a measure to deal with the current concerns.
