FS Education Dept condemns school disruptions amid Mangaung shutdown

FILE | Empty classroom.

The Free State Department of Education has expressed concern over the disruption to teaching and learning arising from Monday’s shutdown, across the Mangaung Metro in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo.

The Provincial Department says while it respects and recognises the constitutional right of citizens to raise concerns and engage in lawful protest, learners and schools should remain protected spaces.

It says learner attendance at Mangaung township schools stood at 13%, with only 5000 learners attending out of 38 000 enrolled learners, while educator attendance remained relatively stable at 69% reporting for duty.

The department says schools in town, including former Model C schools, also experienced reduced learner attendance, with good levels of staff presence.

It adds that in Botshabelo, schools had 63% learner attendance, with 81% of teachers in classrooms

INTERSTATE BUS LINE

The Interstate Bus Line (IBL) has confirmed that they have suspended their operations from Botshabelo to Bloemfontein and surrounding areas as the shutdown has escalated.

IBL Stakeholder Relations Manager Gopolang Monnatlale says the unrest over undocumented foreign nationals has made it difficult for them to operate freely.

This comes as some bus routes were withdrawn in parts of Bloemfontein on Monday morning. By afternoon, a high number of passengers were left stranded with long queues forming.

Monnatlale says they will continue to monitor the situation.

He says, “We pleaded with the organisers to at least allow the buses that are travelling from Bloemfontein in the evening (Monday) to get into the different sections and take passengers home, of which we they agreed, unfortunately when the buses arrived from the afternoon (Monday)the buses could not get into the area and we had no any other alternative but to drop passengers on the N8 which is a situation that is that is not good at all. ”

Monnatlale says, “We will continue to have a look at the situation and would update our passengers with more details. As things stand, we look forward to operating … if the environment allows.”