Langa learners demand a competent maths and physics teacher

About 150 grades 10 to 12 learners from Khulani High School, Langa marched on Thursday to the District Education Offices in Koeberg demanding a maths and physics teacher.

They say that since last year they have not had a competent teacher for these subjects and are afraid they will get bad results at the end of the year.

“All we want is a good teacher who can deliver better. Since last year we did not get what we expected. We are all aiming to further our education till we get degrees but we are concerned whether we will make it,” said Sihle Matshabisa a grade 12 learner.

The learners say they have not had a permanent teacher for these subjects since last year.

“The district office keeps on hiring teachers who do not deliver and they keep on changing teachers,” said Matshabisa.

Another grade 12 learner said that the maths and physics results at the school were low compared to previous years but the Education District continued providing “substandard educators”. He said that results from the second term, which has just started, are key when applying for university.

Tumelo Xhanko from Equal Education said, “We noted the learners concern since last year but it seems the district does not take care about their plight.”

Learners held a meeting with education officials at the district office. They vowed they would not leave the district office before reaching a sound agreement.

After several hours a memorandum was signed by district officials, Equal Education and the learner leadership. It committed to allocating an additional maths and physics teacher to the school from April till the end of the year. The district officials committed to reporting back to the learners by 14 April. The district also committed to providing a catch-up programme from 11 April.

An official from the district refused to comment, referring GroundUp to the Western Cape Education Department.

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