The department of Education in the Western Cape has appealed to parents to work with them and ensure that children go back to school. This after 852 000 learners and 17 700 staff members were absent from school due to the taxi strike last week.The department has thanked all the principals, teachers and staff member who went the extra mile to support learners at schools during the strike.Provincial education MEC, David Maynier says now that the taxi strike has been called off, children must go back to school.