Diamond Fields Advertiser

Elcon staff shortage leaves parents at wits’ end

BENIDA PHILLIPS BENIDA.PHILLIPS@INL.CO.ZA

WITH a limited number of schools available for children with special needs in Kimberley, parents have indicated that the shortage of staff and transportation at Elizabeth Conradie Special School is draining them financially.

The father of a 10-year-old pupil at the school, Alfred Palm, explained that he has to spend more than R4 000 each month to transport his son, Ayden Palm, to school each day.

Palm said he lives near Gong-gong, close to Barkly West, and has been pleading with the school to accommodate his son in the hostel.

He said that due to the shortage of staff at the school, his request has been denied for the past four years.

“We stay outside Barkly West and Ayden has been attending Elizabeth Conradie Special School for the past four years. I have had the challenge of travelling to and from home each day since Ayden started school. I have asked the school if they could accommodate Ayden in the hostel, however, the school indicated that they do not have staff who would be able to take care of him during the night. My son is in a wheelchair and he needs help with things such as using the bathroom or bathing. He requires 24/7 supervision,” said Palm.

He added that he had offered the school a possible solution to the problem in order for his son to continue with his academics.

“I suggested to the school that I could get someone who would look after my son when school was dismissed. I told them that I would pay the person and the school only had to provide a room in the hostel where the carer would stay with Ayden. That way the carer can assist Ayden with his homework and during the night. They refused and said that they cannot allow it.

“The school referred me to the Department of Education. I then approached the department, but after many promises that the department would ‘look into it’, the matter was just never resolved.

“I even turned to social workers, as well as the judicial system for help, but nobody has since come forth with a solution.

“If only the school could give my son one of the rooms at the hostel where he and his carer can stay, then my problem would be solved.

“The school does not have a transportation system for learners who stay outside of Kimberley. If they at least had that, I would make arrangements for someone to be with my son once school has dismissed.

“There are many parents from outside Kimberley who have to pay thousands of rand to private transporters to get their children to school each day.”

Palm added that the problem not only has a financial impact on his family, but it is also emotionally straining on both himself and his son.

“The only income I receive is the pension grant and my son has his disability grant. I have to use his money and my money to pay for my son’s expenses. If I did not have to travel to and from Kimberley each day, then I would be able to find a job so I can have a decent income and take care of both of us.

Palm said his fear is that his son is missing out on being surrounded by children his own age.

The distraught father said he has been praying for a resolution for the past four years.

“This is the only school that is able to afford my son an education in the Northern Cape. We do not have a high number of schools for children with special needs, so we are totally at the mercy of the department and the school.”

Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said the department is currently conducting a “10-day snapshot survey” to address challenges, including the critical staff shortages that exist within the school system.

“The department is aware of the shortage of staff at Elizabeth Conradie Special School. The report, which is due on Monday, January 31, 2022, will give us a clear indication and guide the department on exactly what needs to be done to address the challenges at the different schools,” said Van der Merwe.

“The department is not turning a blind eye to the challenges at Elizabeth Conradie Special School and is engaging with the school on a continuous basis.”

Van der Merwe added that additional staff members had been appointed at the school.

“The school has benefited from the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative as 18 additional staff were appointed to assist with the day-to-day operations at the school.

“It is always difficult to anticipate the exact number of learners at a specific school at the start of a new academic year and therefore challenges will arise when there is a high increase in the number of learners. This has been the case with Elizabeth Conradie Special School and we have informed the school that these matters will receive our undivided attention.”

Van der Merwe also noted that “appropriate” staff members need to be appointed to take care of pupils.

“It should be noted that this is a Special School where learners require special care, hence additional staff will be required to take care of our learners with special needs. It will be irresponsible of the department to take learners while a shortage of staff exists and we are unable to look after the well-being of our learners.

“The department will finalise the 10-day snapshot report and act accordingly in support of our learners with special needs,” Van der Merwe concluded.

NEWS

en-za

2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

http://diamondfieldsadvertiser.pressreader.com/article/281573769084139

African News Agency