The matrics are attending a study camp at a resort in Barkly West, set up by the Department of Basic Education, to catch up almost a month-and-a-half worth of studying lost when protesters in the area forced 64 schools to close in June.

The protests caused about 16,000 pupils, from Grade R to matric, to languish at home.

Northern Cape department of education spokesman Sydney Stander said officials had got 24 schools to reopen. The rest are still closed.

 As part of the catch-up plan for final exams that start on October 22, the department has sent 360 matrics from 10 schools to a camping site, where they are drilled on their subjects 14 hours a day — with regular relaxation breaks in- between.

Stander said the pupils had been there for the past month- and-a-half, and are receiving specialised education in all of the matric subjects.

 They will stay at the camp until the situation in their communities improves.

“There are 29 educators to make up lost time,” said Stander, adding that the matrics were being looked after by “guardian” parents, taking care of the cooking, laundry and security.

 Asked whether the pupils will be ready for the examination, Stander said: “Everything is running smoothly and we are confident that our kids will make it.”

 A ministerial task team was dispatched to the area on Tuesday.

 Education Ministry spokes-man Panyaza Lesufi, who is with the team, said: “It’s a very sad situation when kids can’t go to school.”

He said the task team was satisfied with the matric camp.

 “That is the best the province could do under the circumstances. It is something that they didn’t anticipate, so it means there is no budget for the arrangement that was made.”

In addition to the camp, Lesufi said, they will ask churches to assist in the mediation process with the community.

 The Northern Cape premier’s spokeswoman, Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams, said the situation in the community is “still tense”.

 “But provincial government is convinced that, through its various interventions, normality and calm will soon be restored,” said Thomas-Abrahams.

 Stander said the camp is the first leg of a “broad intervention programme”.

The second leg will involve Grade 1 to Grade 11 pupils, who will have to forfeit their September holidays to attend classes. They will also have to attend afternoon and weekend classes.

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Sat May 25 11:21:45 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 30, 2012

Pointman

Who are the opportunists and exploiters using these kids to further their political ambitions. Find them and jail them.
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Aug 30, 2012

Sinudeity_

ROFLOL!!!

So the ANCYL wants to make the province ungovernable, because of 27 schools closed down in the WCape. Meanwhile, in this province, 64 schools have been closed, because of violent protests. 3 schools buuurned down.


Oh well, more uneducated youths who will join the jobmarket and not find anything. More youths who will blame their lack of education on apartheid, and blame the white man for their ills. And then the kids wonder who white kids are getting jobs but they are not.
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Aug 30, 2012

KasiKid

What a k@k idea, you cannot let kids study from 7 am to 9 pm.

A brain get tired, it needs some time to relax, so if you force it to remember too many things, at the end of the day you will end not remembering anything you have studied.
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Aug 30, 2012

MommaC

Sometimes I think that we should make people apply for licences in order to have children. No parent with any love for their kids would allow this to happen
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Aug 31, 2012

candilious

@MommaC- Hahahahah you made me laugh.....but then again you make a lot of sense


@Sin- Morning-Strange but true
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