NORTHERN AREAS - '"WE CANNOT EDUCATE WITH THE ABSENCE OF AN EDUCATOR" PARENTS SAY

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says teacher shortages are prevalent throughout the Eastern Cape.

She was addressing parents in Port Elizabeth's northern areas where there have been protests over a lack of teachers.

The minister says the Eastern Cape has too many schools, which puts a strain on resources.

But some parents aren't satisfied with what the minister had to say.

The meeting got off to a rocky start, with parents protesting against the Basic Education Department's media ban.

Parents are fighting for an additional 70 teachers to be hired in a region that houses 52 schools.

But the minister says the situation is not unique to Port Elizabeth.

"The biggest problem here... they have too many schools that their budget can't carry," said Motshekga.

"They must close schools in the rural areas, close in the townships and rationalise and be able to have a teacher in every class."

Motshekga has promised to send a special team to assess each school, noting the challenges posed by the province' school to pupil ratio.

Some of the parents were not still not satisfied.

"We would have been best pleased had the minister come and said what she's going to do with the shortages of teachers," said Marlon Daniels.

"We cannot educate with the absence of an educator."

Parents have threatened to take further action if their grievances are not addressed by the department by the beginning of next term.

VIA - enca.com