A Parow family is upset and angry after their five-year-old granddaughter was not accepted at a school just metres away from their home because “she is a foreign African”.
Louis Marais, 69, says the five-year-old Congolese girl, who was born in South Africa, is like a granddaughter to him and his wife.
He feels she was rejected by Saffier Primary School because of her foreign nationality.
“She’s our granddaughter. We have known her all her life and she is the most precious, bubbly child and an absolute pleasure to be around, so one should understand why we are angry,” he explains.
The girl’s parents are their tenants and Louis says they tried to enrol her at the school in February already.
In April, they were told her application was not successful.
“Where must the child attend school? There is no car that her parents can drive up and down and we live a block away from the school,” says Louis.
“Children from Ravensmead and Elsies River attend the school, so why not her?
“We have heard about children who applied for the school’s Grade R programme in June, months after we did, but they were accepted.”
Louis says he believes there is more to the rejection.
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“I personally feel the reason she was not granted acceptance was because she is of a foreign nationality even if the school did not say it in so many words, because what other justification could there possibly be?”
The Daily Voice contacted the school principal last week to ask about Louis’ claims but his secretary said he was not available to comment.
Jessica Shelver from the Western Cape Education Department says the decision is up to the school.
“Requirements for admission vary from school to school. In some instances, schools consider where a learner lives, or if they have a current sibling at the school,” says Shelver.
“The parent may contact the schools to request a copy of their admissions policy.
“A parent may appeal to the governing body should they be declined admission.
“If a parent is not satisfied with the explanation given to them by the school and feel they have been discriminated against, then they do have the option to appeal to the Minister of Education.”
robin.francke@inl.co.za