KEETMANSHOOP – Many parents queued up with their children in different parts of Keetmanshoop to secure placement at schools at the town on Monday.
Norman van Wyk, who recently got promoted and transferred to the southern town, said he had high hopes to ensure placement for his daughter.
“She was a top-performing student at Oosterheim Combined School in Aroab. External circumstances necessitated her to be placed at another secondary school in town,” he said.
Julia Kemanja said she applied last year at Krönlein Primary School for placement for grade 2 for her child.
However, the learner was not yet placed. “She attended another school in town, where the language of instruction was Khoekhoegowab. She, however, struggled to comprehend the language. Hence, I want her to attend a school where subjects are offered in English,” she said.
Approached for comment, acting school principal Lorraine Rooi called on parents seeking placement to be patient. “First, we have to enrol those learners who were promoted last year at the school. We can replace them only if they do not turn up after 15 school days,” she told this publication.
She said although they are already accommodating learners above the total learners per teacher ratio, the management and school board will try their level best to enrol as many learners as possible.
She stated that preference will be given to learners whose parents have relocated due to employment opportunities at the town.
The educator was, however, very concerned about parents who did not apply for enrolment for their children last year.
“If our enrolment statistics have been forwarded to the regional education directorate and there are still learners who are not accommodated, the office of the circuit inspector will accommodate such learners at places available at schools within the //Kharas region, “she noted.