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The Select Committee on Education and Recreation is disappointed that the protests in Vuwani continue to impact negatively on the school calendar and preventing learners from writing their preliminary examinations.

The Committee visited the area following the protests last year and implored the community to act with restrain and to allow the learners to continue with their education. “It is unacceptable that the futures of these children are held at ransom because of service delivery grievances. The futures of these learners are threatened and the protests don’t allow education to be a driver in the fight against poverty” said Ms Lungelwa Zwane, the Chairperson of the Committee.

Learners must be allowed to write these preparatory exams for exams that are going to take place in less than 50 days. While the Committee understands the financial challenges that the provincial and national education departments are facing, it calls for their intervention to ensure that leaners are ready for the end of year exams. The Select Committee appeals that interventions meant to assist learners for exams should be made notwithstanding the financial limitations experienced at provincial and national education departments.

The Committee reiterates its stance that no grievance can be a reason for the disruption of learning and teaching at schools. “We hope that this lockdown of schools in the area will end and learners will be allowed to write their preliminary exams,” Ms Zwane concluded.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education and Recreation, Lungelwa Zwane