JOHANNESBURG Zimbabwean and other foreign children pupils who attended a school at the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg were last week left unsure about whether they will be able to carry on with their studies after authorities shut down the school because it was operating illegally. Gauteng provincial education department officials also said the venue of the school was not conducive to learning as teaching was conducted with adults living and sleeping on the premises throughout the day.
They said teaching took place in church pews while four different classes were conducted in one room with no chalkboards or teaching aids and also said the health and safety of pupils in the church building was compromised.
In addition teachers at the school were also found not to be registered with the SA Council of Educators (SACE).
Teaching was taking place in church pews, four different classes conducted in one room, there were no chalkboards or teaching aids, and health and safety was compromised. Educators were also not registered with the South African Council of Educators (SACE), said department spokesperson Charles Phahlane.
Phahlane said when the department team visited the site this week it discovered 232 learners were attending classes, most of them from Zimbabwe.
The school teaches the Cambridge curriculum and some learners were currently writing Cambridge O and A level exams.
As from this week, learners will be transported and accommodated at the SciBono Discovery Centre for daily lessons until the end of the year while measures are being taken to ensure the school is fully compliant with department rules and standards.
The department will also provide alternative tuition until the teachers are registered by SACE.
Post published in: Zimbabwe News