Though the first day of the academic year brought a jubilant atmosphere to most schools across Nelson Mandela Bay, recurring problems including overcrowding and vandalism were experienced in the northern areas and townships.
In some schools, almost 70 pupils were crammed into a single class with even more waiting outside seeking last-minute placement.
Scores of desperate parents and pupils had to be turned away from Loyiso and KwaMagxaki high schools on Wednesday.
Though some of the parents had been going to various schools since the beginning of the week hoping their children would be enrolled, they were disappointed as they were told to head to the education department for further assistance.
At Loyiso, parents filled the staffroom area and foyer waiting with their children.
Parent Thandisizwe Mandla said he was initially hopeful but found out on Wednesday that the school had exceeded capacity.
“We were given application forms and I was number 4 on the list, but when I arrived this morning I was told it was full.
“Now I’m stuck here, not being assisted. My son is stressed because we left home ready for him to start school,” Mandla said.
Loyiso principal Ray Mali said they had to accommodate as many pupils as possible.
“The department of education told us to advise parents who applied late to go to its offices for assistance even though we tried our best to accommodate those we could.
“We can’t take any more pupils because of the dire shortage of furniture.
“My advice to parents going forward is that they should apply timeously.
“We do send out notifications to parents when the application period is open, yet we still get an influx of last-minute applicants,” Mali said.
At KwaMagxaki High School, the overcrowding was particularly evident among the grade 9s and 10s.
Thandokazi Koliti, who recently moved to Gqeberha, was wandering the school’s premises after she was turned away due to shortage of space for her grade 8 daughter.
“I am just walking around because I don’t want my child to see me cry,” she said.
“She was crying earlier when we were told the school is full, but we decided to wait and I don’t know where to go from here.”
Koliti, who hails from Hankey, said she had started a retail job in the city last week and had to move with her daughter.
“Moving here was a last-minute decision, hence we’re in this situation.
“I might have to quit the job before I even get paid if my daughter is not placed by the end of this week,” she said.
KwaMagxaki High School was supposed to enrol 1,564 pupils but due to the influx of new children they have extended the number to over 1,600.
Principal Vuyani Ngcelwane said they had planned to accommodate 200 grade 8s but ended up taking more than 300.
“It’s a big problem in terms of the number of teachers we need to accommodate these pupils and the department is not prepared to provide any additional ones,” Ngcelwane said.
“We find ourselves with the historical challenge of migration which drives our numbers quite high.
“Parents who reside in the area of KwaMagxaki are now bringing their children back here, and even if we are full we find it difficult to turn them away as they are immediate community members.”
Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said Gqeberha had fewer than 187 unplaced grade 8 pupils and there was enough space to accommodate them.
“Education department district officials are busy giving parents placement letters as there are enough spaces.
“Parents are co-operative and they understand the protocols we’ve put in place to assist them.”
He said teaching and learning were expected to commence this week as all materials had been distributed to schools across the province.
Meanwhile, it was a morning of high drama at AW Habelgaarn Primary School in Bloemendal after police escorted the principal from the premises amid alleged threats by parents.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed the principal had been escorted from the grounds on Wednesday.
“She alleges that she received threats and needed police to help her get away from the school grounds, which SAPS Bethelsdorp complied with and escorted her to the safety of her home.”
The principal said: “The reason I left was that parents were mobilised to remove me. It is sabotage.”
The drama came amid an allegation of financial misconduct levelled against the principal.
School governing body (SGB) chair Clive Damons said he had written a report about the allegation and submitted it to the district office of the education department.
Mtima confirmed the department was aware of the situation at the school.
“On the first day of school, the 15th, the principal was served with a notice of intention to suspend her.
“Within seven days, on the 22nd, she must give reasons why she must not be suspended.
“We are attending to it. There is a disciplinary process that has been set in motion.
“The first part of the process was to give the principal the letter. After the seven days, the process would kick-start,” Mtima said.
A stone’s throw away, at Dietrich Primary School in Schauderville, teachers in three grades were forced to start on the back foot after all their stationery was stolen in a break-in on Tuesday night.
Principal Chantel Milborrow said the supplies for grades 7, 4 and 5 had been stolen.
“They did damage by pulling off the curtains.
“They stole two expensive speakers and two gas cans.
“This is a setback because it wasn’t the first break-in over the holiday.
“There are doors and windows to be replaced.
“It feels that we go three steps back when we take one step forward.
“In the last week of December, two wheelbarrows and a gazebo were stolen.”
Milborrow said intruders had tried to get into the storeroom two weeks ago in a separate incident.
She said the school had an added challenge of parents who did not apply for admission on time and simply arrived on Wednesday.
“We do not have any more space for pupils.
“Yesterday [Tuesday], I spoke to a group of parents who came with their children already dressed in our uniform, but they had not applied.
“If you know your child has to go to school the next year, go and inquire at schools.”
De Heuwel Primary School in Hillside also fell victim to vandalism.
“We are hampered by electrical cable theft that took place during the holiday,” principal Anthony Walton said.
“Some of our classes are without electricity.”
Meanwhile, it was a relatively quiet start at most of the former model C schools in Gqeberha.
Newton Park Primary School principal Jacobus Pienaar said the day had started off with a buzz of activity as parents and their children filtered through the passages from early in the morning.
The grade 1s were already introduced to their teachers on Tuesday.
Pienaar, who has been at the helm for the past 11 years, said it was smooth sailing for the 69 new arrivals.
In Willet Street, Herbert Hurd Primary welcomed 117 new faces out of 360 applicants who submitted their entries for enrolment last year.
The principal, Dr Susan Whale, said the school had received a “very warm” response from parents and pupils alike.
“Fortunately, we did not experience any issues,” Whale said.
Erica Girls Primary School, situated in Mount Croix, welcomed 85 pupils, split into four classes, into their fold.
Media liaison Jeanne Bell, a former pupil at the school, said besides the usual nervousness and occasional tears the morning went smoothly with no hiccups.
HeraldLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.