Dear Portfolio Committee on Basic Education,

Good Day
A parent posted on Facebook that her son was denied acceptance to a school nearby where 2 of her other children were attending. She made numerous requests to the school and WCED for a reversal of this decision based on the fact that the school allocated to her son was in an unsafe area and that she had sons at her chosen school. She is still trying to find redress.

What was startling is the responses to her post. Numerous other parents cited similar experiences and accused the WCED of incompetence, the online application system being unfair, foreigners' children getting preference to learners in the area, schools choosing academically stronger learners to maintain there matric pass rate, at the
exclusion of learners in the area, and so forth

It would be useful if honorable members of the portfolio look into this matter, as SGB's, who decide on school enrolment policy, might not give enough consideration to learners in the community when considering placement.