The March and March Movement, known for its strong anti-undocumented migrant stance, has slammed the Department of Basic Education for what it termed less stringent requirements for children of illegal migrants to get admitted to public schools as compared to children of South Africans.
The movement claimed that a policy directive from the department seeks to dilute the right of South African citizens and legal residents to timely and equitable access to the country’s limited educational resources.
It was responding to a press statement by the department, where it said it was debunking fake news that children of undocumented immigrants only need an affidavit to get admitted to public schools.
The March and March Movement said while it fully acknowledges the constitutional right to basic education, this right must be viewed within the context of national sovereignty, fiscal reality, and the overwhelming burden already placed on our struggling public school system.
Prioritising South Africans non-negotiable
It stressed that prioritising South African learners is non-negotiable.
“The current crisis is undeniable: South African citizens and children of legal permanent residents are facing massive placement backlogs and overcrowded classrooms. The DBE cannot, and must not, hide behind constitutional ambiguity while our own children are denied their future.
“The crisis is so severe that South African citizens are reporting appalling conditions where their children are effectively told to “sit on the floor” because legal, fee-paying citizens’ schools are unable to cope with the demand.
“This shocking testimony from parents highlights the direct and painful consequence of the DBE’s ambiguous and weak admission policies. Such policies actively allow undocumented learners to exacerbate an already collapsing infrastructure, compromising the dignity, safety, and quality of education for every child,” the movement, which is known for blocking [undocumented] immigrants from accessing public hospitals, said.
It added that any policy that mandates schools to accept learners without verifiable legal documentation actively rewards illegal immigration and compromises the integrity of the state.
In its guidelines, the department said it is the duty of principals to help children of undocumented immigrants to get registered and help them regularise their admission.
