Sizimisele students protested in the city about a shortage of teachers. Photo: Tariro Washinyira
16 May 2016
About 50 students from Sizimisele Technical High School in Khayelitsha marched from Cape Town train station to the offices of the Western Cape Education Department demanding more teachers.
This is not the first time Sizimisele students have complained about teacher shortages. Zandi Kwezi, 16, a grade 11 student, said students had protested three times already this year.
She said there was no teacher in her graphics and design course.
Paddy Attwell, Director of Communication for the Western Cape Education Department, said Tau Matseliso, Deputy Director General, had met the protesters and discussed their demands.
He said Sizimisele had become a technical high school in January 2014 and the school had teachers in excess of requirements based on learner numbers, but who could not teach technical subjects.
“The department cannot appoint more teachers on a permanent basis while the school has teachers in excess. Nevertheless, the department is very aware of the situation at the school and has approved the appointment of three teachers to teach technical subjects on a contract basis until the end of the year.”
Attwell said in the meantime, the five teachers currently “in excess” would be deployed to other schools and district officials would work with the school to develop a strategic plan.