Jannie Brink pupils set to return to class

PUPILS from Jannie Brink Special School are expected to return to class this morning after the Northern Cape Department of Education struggled to fill the vacant position for a school nurse and opted to send the children home.

While the vacant position has now been filled, parents and guardians have expressed concern over the potential impact that the time away from school could have on their children who require special attention.

According to the legal guardian of one of the pupils at the school, two social workers arrived at his house in mid-February to inform him that classes had been called off.

“They told my partner that Jannie Brink had been closed and that he (the pupil) would have to remain in our full-time care until it reopened,” said the guardian yesterday.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the Northern Cape Education Department, Geoffrey van der Merwe, assured parents that the school was not closed due to staff protests but instead came as a result of concerns for the pupils’ special medical needs.

“The 223 pupils of the school were unable to attend school for nine days because there was a delay in the appointment of a school nurse,” explained the spokesman. “One was appointed last year but declined the offer. “We were able to fill the vacancy last week and the new school nurse started on Monday. Because of the medical conditions of the various learners, special arrangements were necessary as we cannot expect the teachers to administer the required medication which, in some instances, include injections. It was never our intention to close the school .”