PHAMBILI High School in Seaview, Queensburgh classified as a quintile five school has suffered the financial loss of receiving the least support from government.
Regardless of the school catering for learners from mostly disadvantaged or problematic backgrounds it was put in a quintile five category along other ex-model C schools because of its geographic location.
“We get a small allocation of capital from government because of the quintile classification and our parents cant afford the small school fees we charge,” said the school principal, Londa Luthuli.
According to a teacher at the school, Mehrunnissa Mullah Chetty, Phambili High School is a second or last chance for many of them to get an education.
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“We therefore need to do our best to ensure these learners are afforded the best environment and resources to enable them to make the most of this opportunity to get an education,” she said.
The school has infrastructure challenges, according to Luthuli, ceilings are falling apart, gutters are blocked, the drainage system needs attention.
“The learners have to endure all weather conditions with the broken windows and the smell from some of the toilets is unbearable for the learners,” he said.
According to Chetty, none of the classrooms have a teachers desk or chair and teachers stand through out a teaching period.
“We don’t even have a proper functioning staff room,” she said.
Apart from issues with the infrastructure the school doesn’t have learner support material.
“We spend a lot of money making copies of text books and learning material because we don’t have enough learner books,” said principal Luthuli.
The school is also appealing to former teacher or anyone interested in offering reading and writing lessons to the learners that have difficulties.
“Businesses and individuals can come through and view the school to see how they can assist. Every bit of support is needed. Calling on past learners to give back to the school,”
“Support does not have to be in terms of money but can also be in terms of rendering a service (electrical, plumbing, builders, etc), or supplying of material (eg. windows, doors, burglar guards, gates, doors, etc,), resources (such as textbooks, dictionaries, stationery and tables), a container for the tuck shop,” said Chetty.
The school can be reached on 031 465 2261, school principal on 083 774 4474 and phambilihighschool@gmail.com
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