This, after tempers flared high with parents at the school threatening a shutdown should the department not progress learners to the next grade as the department previously communicated. Parents at the school today, during a meeting with the officials from the Department within the Xhariep District, refuted the department's plan for learners from grade 4 to 11 to write exams at the end of January.

The decision by the department came at a backdrop of service delivery protests that affected schooling in the town from last year October. Parents at the school maintain that their children should not be punished nor placed under pressure to write examinations before they could commence with this year's academic work. They demand that the MEC of Education, Tate Makgoe, come to address them on the matter.

They further demand that learners' 2018 progress reports be released as soon as possible and for all learners at the school to be progressed to the next grades. The department's Velaphi Magwa has during the meeting committed to present concerns raised by the parents to the office of the MEC and communicate a way forward with the Headmistress of Koffiefontein Combined School, Susan Nieuwoudt, by Thursday January 17.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela, Sazly Hartzenberg and Olebogeng Motse