The pupils from the Kharkams community in the Kamiesberg Local Municipality have been unable to attend school for the past few weeks. This was due to a malfunctioning school bus that had not been repaired.
The settlement of Kharkams is 25 kilometers south of Kamieskroon on the N7 in Namaqualand.
According to one of the concerned parents, the Department of Education in the Namakwa District has been notified numerous times regarding the issue, but, no action has been taken. This lack of response has left the parents feeling frustrated and their children’s education in limbo.
The parents are worried about the safety of their children and the impact on their education. They fear that missing school for such an extended period could have a negative impact on their grades and overall academic performance. The Department’s response to their complaints has been unsatisfactory, with the only solution being that the district office will speak to the provincial office to find a way forward.
According to the parents, the Department’s inability to address this issue is placing their children’s future in jeopardy. They believe that small issues like this could have been prevented if the Department had acted on their complaints in a timely and efficient manner.
Radio NFM has reached out to the Northern Cape Provincial Department of Education for a response, but they are yet to provide one.
