This is according to the MEC of Education in the Free State, Tate Makgoe, who says no learners will be moved to the next grade without meeting the passing requirements. “It is what the law says, there are no shortcuts,” he warns. Makgoe said this to the media present after he addressed learners at Kgato Primary School in Rocklands in Bloemfontein as schools countrywide reopened today. He says everyone must know that they have to work hard to achieve their goals, there are no shortcuts.

Protest action in the Free State mining town intensified in October 2018, with angry residents burning and destroying public and private property in an effort to oust the embattled mayor of the Letsemeng Local Municipality, Thandiwe Reachable. Schooling came to a complete halt as a result of protests and pupils, with the exception of grade 12’s who were moved to other towns, failed to write their final examinations. Makgoe criticised the disruption of schooling in service delivery protests.

“This thing of using learners to push your social point or political problem is unacceptable and it’s something that is always bothering us because you are saying that those kids must sacrifice the year because you are worried about the mayor. You’ve got structures, you’ve got processes. You can deal with those processes, deal with those challenges,” says Makgoe, responding to the situation in Koffiefontein.

It has been reported that schools in the town did reopen, but grade one to nine learners are in limbo, awaiting their reports to be signed off by the Head of Department, while those in grades 10 and 11 are preparing to write their end of year examinations this month. The MEC remains adamant no child will progress to the next grade without qualifying to do so.

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