S. African Schools take dept to court

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Schools take dept to court
10/01/2005 10:20  - (SA)

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1645133,00.html

Millicent Merton

[snip]

Lessons in English

Mikro Primary School, an Afrikaans-medium school in Kuils River, also
embarked on legal action against the department after it was ordered to
offer lessons in English for about 30 Grade 1 pupils. Because of
developments in Kuils River, there was a shortage of classrooms for
English-speaking pupils in particular. This school's governing body sent a
lawyer's letter to the department.  Chairperson Erhard Wolf said earlier
that the department's decision to change the school's language policy
contravenes the School's Act.

Elsewhere, departmental officials will meet with residents of Hout Bay
this week to discuss the classroom shortage in the area. The department
asked Kronendal Primary School to enrol nearly 120 Grade 8 pupils because
the local high school was full. There were also classroom shortages in
Mfuleni, where meetings would be held this week, Dugmore said.

The province apparently needed an additional 65 schools while the current
budget allowed for only 10 schools to be built every year. About 11 000
unused classrooms in the province were in areas where they were not
needed. The education department, in consultation with the department of
public works, decided to employ volunteers to build classrooms at
Brandwacht Primary School between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn, and
Manzomtombo Primary School in Mfuleni.

Meanwhile, the department would be revising its transport policy, which
states that pupils must be transported by bus when they live further than
5km from a school.