The parents of the Turtle class of 2017, urge the administration of Midstream Ridge Pre-primary to return teacher Paulina Thavihiwa to the position of teacher’s assistant with immediate effect.

Our request is based on what is in the best interests of all the children involved and we strongly believe that this change is to the detriment of their development during this pivotal year as they transition into Grade 1.

The children deserve to be given every opportunity to succeed and to meet their full potential with the help of an experienced and suitably qualified grade R teacher’s assistant. Teacher Paulina, having had taught the grade R syllabus will aid in supporting teacher Bianca de Wild in her first year of teaching this grade - as was the case up until last week Friday, 17 February 2017.

The method in which this change was communicated, sadly demonstrates a lack of consideration given to the impact it’ll have on the children. We also feel that a change this drastic, requires formal communication, an explanation to the parents as well as the children and not a mere note on a weekly class letter. The outcome of which seems insensitive and unfair on the children.