Polokwane Schools Placement Delays Persist Despite Efforts to Address Backlog

The Department of Education in Polokwane has yet to finalise the placement of learners, missing its self-imposed deadline last Wednesday.

Mike Maringa, the department’s spokesperson, attributed the delay to the ongoing process of verifying late applications, reviewing rejected cases, and accommodating newly relocated learners. However, he reassured parents that all qualifying children would eventually be placed.

Polokwane’s Pietersburg Circuit holds the highest number of applicants in the province, underscoring the pressing need for new schools and improved infrastructure. Although sites in Greenside and Bendor have been earmarked for new schools, construction has not yet begun.

In the meantime, the department has rolled out mobile classrooms to expedite the placement process for unplaced learners. Maringa shared that the number of unplaced children had decreased from 816 to 246, with plans to accommodate all qualifying learners soon.

The majority of affected students are in lower grades, from Grade R to Grade 7. As a result, many parents are continuing to queue at circuit offices, seeking placement for their children. Some have visited the offices multiple times, only to be told to correct application errors. Others have voiced frustration with the allocation process, which is based on proximity rather than personal preference.

The department’s placement policy is based on feeder zones, meaning learners are assigned to the nearest public school to their home address. As the backlog begins to reduce, parents remain hopeful for a swift and fair resolution.