Accusations of rights violated

The Democratic Alliance (DA) filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against the Education Department for allegedly failing to provide adequate toilet facilities and classrooms for learners at Mapani Primary School in Makhado.
The party also wrote a letter to Education MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe, urgently requesting the provision of temporary mobile toilets and classrooms at the school. DA Provincial leader and Spokesperson on Education, Jacques Smalle was quoted in a statement to have said the DA observed shocking levels of overcrowding as well as learners relieving themselves in the bushes during an oversight visit conducted by the party last week. He further said the situation has led to the entire school yard reeking of human faeces.
Smalle added that the school has more than 400 learners who do not have access to any toilet facilities. Some learners risk their lives by using the old toilets in collapsed structures while others relieve themselves in excavated holes, he said.

“The current national norm for toilets is 22 learners per toilet while Limpopo’s target is 40 learners per toilet. To make the matter worse, the school does not have enough classrooms and those available are overcrowded. With just one class for each grade the DA has noted overcrowding with a total number of learners per classroom. There are 76 learners in Grade 1, 52 in Grade 2, 50 in Grade 3, 71 in Grade 4, 60 in Grade 5, 50 in Grade 6 and 47 in Grade 7,” Smalle said.
Some learners have no chairs and they are forced to sit on the frames of old chairs and desks in overcrowded classrooms. The situation at Mapani Primary School reflects a challenge faced by most schools in the province where a serious lack of desks, chairs and chalkboards are affecting a conducive learning environment, he reiterated. According to the Department of Education’s Annual Performance Plan (APP) for the 2017/18 financial year, the department allocated R166 million for maintenance and repair and R550 million for upgrades, he outlined. Smalle concluded saying it was imperative that the school receives the necessary funding as a matter of urgency.
SAHRC Provincial Manager Victor Mavhidula confirmed that a complaint was filed and they will assess the matter before conducting investigations. He said the commission will conduct an oversight visit to the school to confirm the allegations and engage the department. He further said education-related cases were their first priority and they always make sure that cases are resolved positively.
Education Department spokesperson Naledzani Rasila was not available for comment.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
Photos: Supplied