A group of frustrated parents has taken to the Department of Education to demand answers after 43 Grade 11 learners from Stanmore Secondary School failed English in the final school term. Many of the learners failed by just one percent, while others are now facing their third year of repeating the grade.
The situation has sparked outrage among parents, who feel that their children’s futures are being jeopardised due to what they believe may be systemic failures in the educational system. The parents, who met with officials from the department, expressed their deep concerns about the quality of teaching and the lack of answers from the school administration.
“It’s not just a couple of students that failed, it’s 43 learners, with some repeating the grade, which is a massive red flag. We are left with no choice but to ask, where did the system fail? Was the teaching adequate, and was the curriculum being followed properly?” questioned a concerned parent.
Some parents questioned the competence of the teacher involved. “I wonder if the teacher is adequately qualified to teach such a critical subject. If 43 learners failed, is it not time to consider whether the teacher is fit for the job? We entrust our children’s education to these professionals, and they should be held accountable.”
Another parent, who did not want to be named, said, “There are definitely discrepancies in how the learners were assessed. When we questioned the assignments and assessment marks, we were told that they don’t carry any weight, so why even give the learners a task that will not help them in any way at the end of the year?”
The parent further alleged that some of the children who were failed were being victimised by the teacher, who made remarks in front of the class. “My daughter was being victimised by the teacher every morning, just two weeks before she could start her final exams, which affected her. She passed all the other subjects well and just needed one percent to pass English, but they refused to give her, which is very disappointing.”
A mother, whose son is on the verge of repeating Grade 11 for the third time, expressed her frustration. “As a mother, it breaks my heart to see my son working tirelessly, trying his best, and showing real effort throughout the year. What I cannot accept, however, is that despite his hard work, his teachers are refusing to give him a few percent that he needs to pass English.”
The parents are calling for a re-mark of the exam papers, a full review of the school’s teaching methods and the qualifications of the staff, as well as a re-evaluation of the exam structure to ensure that learners are not being unfairly penalized.
Muzi Mahlambi from the KZN Department of Education said that the department is aware of the matter and is attending to the issue.
