Follow up: Temporary relief for Dawn Park Primary learners

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) recently handed five mobile classrooms to Dawn Park Primary after a fire damaged large parts of the school in the early hours of August 13, leaving the 250 learners without proper facilities.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined.

The new classrooms are meant to provide temporary relief but were met with mixed reactions from the school governing body.

While grateful for the quick response, SGB member Sipho Msimang said the mobile units are far from ideal.

“We are grateful for the mobile classrooms but would like the permanent classrooms to be rebuilt. The mobile classrooms are smaller and very hot.”

He also pointed out that Dawn Park is rapidly developing and only has one primary school in the area.

“We are already dealing with overcrowding, and the situation will likely worsen.”

The school serves several new housing developments in the area, including Dawn City, Dawn Villas, Chelsea, Jazzberry and Longmore flats, and Lemonwood, Indlovu and Ingonyama estates.

“Beyond space limitations, the lack of proper furniture in the mobile classrooms is another pressing concern. We need furniture in these mobile classes,” Msimang added, stressing the matter’s urgency.

The school hopes the mobile classrooms will be a short-term solution and that the GDE will swiftly move to rebuild the damaged facilities.

“We do not want to use these mobile classes for too long. The goal is to have proper, permanent classrooms again,” Msimang concluded.

The Advertiser await comment from the GDE.

Also Read: Unexplained fire hits local school