Learners disrupt teaching at JE Malepe Secondary School

In their memorandum of grievances, the learners are claiming that they have been pleading with the school's principal to fix the school infrastructure and buy classroom furniture.

Tsakane – Learners at JE Malepe shut down learning on Tuesday morning demanding for the school and the Department of Education to fix the school’s infrastructure.
In their memorandum of grievances, the learners are claiming that they have been pleading with the school’s principal to fix the school infrastructure and buy classroom furniture (desk and chairs).

Vandalised bathrooms at JE Malepe Secondary School.

The school grounds are flooded with water with no provision made to channel the water. Learners are allegedly forced to use broken tables and chairs in class.
Pan African Student Organisation chairperson Vincent Dhladhla said they are concerned that the grade 10, 11 and 12 learners have not had a seTswana teacher since the beginning of the year.

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“The first term of the year has already lapsed yet the teacher has not been replaced for these classes. How does the department expect learners to perform when they don’t have a teacher to facilitate the lessons?” he asked.
Dhladhla alleged there is a high level of corruption in the awarding of tenders at the school which resulted in the battle between the school principal and SGB members as to who is to be awarded.

The school ground is flooded with no means made to channel the water.

“This led to the suspension of the school principal,” he explained.
He added that the shutdown will continue until they are assured by the department that their grievances are addressed.
“They are toying with our future and we will not stand by idly,” he added.

The bathroom’s water taps were vandalised and never repaired.

Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona denied the allegations of a shutdown at the school.
“We can, however, confirm that certain sections of the learners raised their concerns, but this did not lead to any significant disruption to teaching and learning.
“We further reject the allegations of poor infrastructure and absence of a seTswana teacher for the above mentioned grades as unfounded,” he explained.
Mabona added that due to an influx of new admissions for 2022, the department is attending to furniture requirements in all schools across Gauteng

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