Teaching and learning continued as normal at Vista High School in Bo-Kaap on Wednesday, following recent disruptive demonstrations there.

Learners protested at the school and in the surrounding area on Tuesday morning, calling for the removal of the school’s principal and to voice their frustration with challenges at the school, such as a high teacher turnover rate.

The learners say this has had an impact on their academic performance. The demonstration follows previous efforts to address concerns between the representative council of learners and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). 

The WCED confirmed that officials were at the school last week for meetings regarding “teacher turnover rates and academic progress”, noting that engagements were constructive and peaceful. 

Despite this, WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the protest began after the principal had left the school for an unrelated matter. 

“Unfortunately, another small group of learners used this opportunity to disrupt schooling. They then dispersed elsewhere from the school,” said Hammond.  

Following the protest, Hammond said a plan of action had to be implemented to prevent matric preliminary examinations from being disturbed again. A meeting had also been scheduled for Wednesday, 3 September, with parents. 

That morning, Hammond said there were still a few learners who refused to enter the school grounds. Nonetheless, exams and teaching continued undisturbed.  

Hammond advised that district officials would return to the school on Thursday to address learners across all grades on academic interventions.  

“The school had been identified as an underperforming school following their Grade12 NSC results last year. An academic improvement plan has been developed to improve learner outcomes,” said Hammond, adding that counselling support will also be provided.  

Meanwhile, the ANC in the Western Cape has expressed its concern that “learners feel compelled to protest for their constitutional right to quality education”.  

ANC Western Cape leader, Khalid Sayed, said he and officials from his party have also met with some of the learners at the school.  

According to Sayed, learners had initially raised concerns on 21 August, including “the high teacher turnover rate, the absence of a clear plan to restore and improve academic performance, and the lack of academic and emotional support”. Then, he noted that an engagement with WCED followed on 29 August, after which he said learners felt the concerns were still unresolved. 

Serving on the Standing Committee on Education in the Provincial Legislature, Sayed said he and his colleagues on the committee will raise this matter with the WCED, “with urgency”. 

He further urged the department to ensure that the school environment is stabilised and to ensure that there is a recovery plan and accountability.  

“No learner should be denied the opportunity to succeed because of administrative failures,” said Sayed.