A Free State High Court ruling about an admission of a five-year-old to Grade 1 at the St Helena Primary School in Welkom was concluded on Friday.
This follows a school application of admission for a child who was four years old at the time, in August last year.
Governing Body of South African Schools (FEDSUS) says the St Helena’s admissions policy is based on guidelines of the education department and the stipulations of the Schools’ Act.
Jaco Deacon says the policy further states that learners who turn seven in the Grade 1 year will be accommodated first.
According to Deacon, the parent’s application was not successful and the High Court’s judgement said the school governing body’s decision not to admit the child was correct.
“This ruling again confirm the importance of an admissions policy and that the school governing body is responsible for the admission policy. It also states that preference should be given to children of school going age, before schools can start to cater for younger children.”
Deacon says St Helena’s admissions policy is in line with the Free State Education Department’s stipulation that preference should be given to children of compulsory school-going age in instances where capacity is a problem.
REFILWE GAESWE
