A Bloemfontein woman is stranded after application for the placement of her child was rejected by two public secondary schools.
Mamosa Mohapi (34) says she applied last year before the deadline for placement of her son who is due to start Gr. 8 this year. She applied at the Atlehang Secondary School and the Lereko Secondary School, alleging an unwelcoming reception at the latter.
“Around 11:00 at Lereko they wanted a letter from the department confirming placement. Thereafter, they told us to wait at the school until 14:00,” says Mohapi.
Both schools are within a reasonable distance from their home and can easily be reached by her son.
Mohapi says her child is still at home while waiting for a response from the Free State Department of Education. Despite going to the department, as advised by the two schools, Mohapi is yet to receive feedback.
“An official of the Free State Department of Education called on Wednesday (26/01) to confirm that my son had not been placed and that they were busy with the placement of Gr. 8 learners on the waiting list.”
According to Mohapi, the official promised to contact her again.
She has been unsuccessful in securing placement for her son since 12 January, when the schools opened for 2022.
“I do not know when I will get a call confirming that I can collect the placement letter.”
Mohapi says her struggle to get placement for her son has forced her to spend R350 of the R1 800 budgeted for school fees and travelling for January.
Mohapi, a mother of two, is a hairdresser and also studies.
According to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, the number of unplaced Gr. 8 learners in the province on 12 January stood at 1 144. In the Motheo district there were 494 unplaced Gr. 8 learners, with progress in Bloemfontein a concern.
Despite repeated efforts, Expresswas unsuccessful in getting feedback from the provincial department regarding Mohapi’s case and progress made in placing learners.
