Parents in Gauteng, South Africa are fuming over the Education Department's inability to place their children with special needs in schools. Many have been on waiting lists for years, despite the province having the highest concentration of learners with special needs in the country. The parents are threatening legal action if the department does not address this issue urgently.
Parents in Gauteng , South Africa , are threatening legal action against the Education Department after their children with special needs were reportedly denied placement in schools. These parents claim they have been on waiting lists for years, despite Gauteng having the highest concentration of learners with special needs in the country, with over 60,000 children requiring specialized education. This is followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Nationally, the number of special needs schools has increased from 295,000 to 499,000 between 2002 and 2023, with enrolment rising from 64,000 to over 140,000.A 39-year-old mother, whose seven-year-old son has autism, shared her frustration over the department's inability to place her child in a school. She stated, “I’ve been struggling from January right until December to place him, to actually get him into the school, to place him into the school but they refused. They actually wanted me to bring another document, they wanted me to go through an educational psychologist, when I gave them all the psychologists, neurologists, everything and the previous report from a special needs school, when to be placed. It upsets me and frustrates me, I mean my son is seven-years-old and he needs to go to school and he hasn’t been at school.”She continued, “I’d like to tell the department, on behalf of all parents, that it’s unfair to neglect special needs kids. They are also human.” The parents are urging the department to address this issue swiftly to prevent further legal action. They are demanding an end to the delays and a commitment to providing equitable access to education for children with special needs
Special Needs Education South Africa Gauteng Education Department Legal Action
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FlySafair Denies Foreign Ownership as South African Councils Threaten LicenseFlySafair refutes claims of foreign ownership despite reports from South Africa's Air Services Licensing Council and the International Air Services Council. The airline insists the issue stems from its ownership structure involving trusts and companies rather than individuals, a position that may not comply with South African regulations. FlySafair faces potential license revocation if it fails to address these concerns, which could significantly impact the South African tourism and airline industry.
Read more »
South African Premier Urges Parents to Report Statutory Rape CasesKwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has called on parents to report cases of statutory rape when their daughters are impregnated by men. He expressed concern over the number of young mothers, including three 15-year-olds, who gave birth around Christmas.
Read more »
3 South African Celebrities Who Became Parents in 2024Springboks flyhalf Handré Pollard and rapper Shane Eagle became parents for the first time as well as Muvhango actress Angela Atlang, who returned to the soapie.
Read more »
South African Parents Outraged Over Unusual School Supply ListsParents are protesting against schools demanding non-stationery items like toilet paper, tissues, and cleaning products on their back-to-school lists.
Read more »
South African Celebrities Ring in the New Year with African AdventuresCelebrities like Pearl Thusi, Anele Mdoda, Neo Nontso, and Rachel Kolisi enjoyed diverse experiences across Africa during the New Year, from skydiving and scenic cruises to solo explorations.
Read more »
South Africa: How South African Women Navigate Gender Issues on TikTokThe Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC) has released its latest report, Gender-Based Violence and Misogyny TikTok Analytics and Narrative Update in South Africa, on the online conversation regarding gender-based violence and misogyny.
Read more »