Bumpy start to new school year

SCHOOLS  in KwaZulu-Natal are heading for a rocky start to the new academic year, with many yet to receive the resources they need from the Department of Education.

The full scale of the problem is still emerging, but education unions Sadtu and Naptosa say they’ve sent questionnaires to their members to get a clearer picture. Both fear classes may not start on time because schools haven’t received essential learning and teaching materials, or the funding they rely on from the department. Similar concerns have also been raised by the National Teachers Union. 

Naptosa CEO Thirona Moodley said the department has consistently claimed it lacks the funds.

“And our biggest concern is that Section 21c schools, which handle their own procurement and receive allocations from the department, haven’t received their funding. They haven’t been able to order any Learning Teacher Support Material.”

Moodley added that several schools for children with special educational needs have also missed out on their allocations.

“These schools are obviously more expensive to run. They have more teachers, teacher aides, sometimes hostels, house mothers, and bus drivers to collect learners. They’re really worried about how they’ll open next week.”

Sadtu media officer Nomusa Cembi said the current situation echoes last year’s problems.“Last year, we even had pickets protesting the non-delivery of norms and standards funding. That’s money given to schools to operate, and when it wasn’t delivered on time, it really affected school running.”

Cembi said at the time principals were forced to use their own money to buy supplies like paper because of delayed payments.

“We don’t want to see that happening again.”

The Department of Education told the Independent on Saturday that it is aware of the challenges and hopes to have issues resolved before teachers return on Monday and learners on Wednesday.

KZN Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said: “We are aware of the affected schools and are working around the clock to have deliveries completed over the weekend.”

Meanwhile, thousands of learners in Gauteng are still waiting for school placement as the province grapples with its own admission crisis.