40 learners share one classroom after storm damage
The DA expressed serious concern after the roof of Rakgoatha Primary School near Zebediela was blown off during a recent storm, saying the Department of Education should prioritise the school.
LIMPOPO –Â According to DA Political Head for Lepelle Nkumpi, Katlego Phala, the department has failed to fix the roof despite several promises by officials who came to assess the damage.
Phala told CV it is the department’s responsibility to in the meantime provide mobile classrooms.
She said the school has three blocks of which one was destroyed by a hail storm three years ago.
“Failing to fix this block proves the department does not care about the future and safety of our children,” said Phala.
She said over 40 learners are now forced to share one classroom.
“It’s unfortunate that this situation causes unnecessary overcrowding and makes it impossible for conducive learning and teaching at the school,” she said adding that overcrowding is against the standard norms of learner to educator ratio.
“Adequate resources such as textbooks, desks and chairs were also damaged in the storm, which has also contributed towards the shortage of textbooks and chairs at the school,” she said.
She said all learners deserve a dignified learning environment.
“It is apparent that the department has failed these learners and educators by not fulfilling its own mandate to provide a conducive environment for learning and teaching at this school.
“This contravenes the learners constitutional rights as enshrined in the Constitution,” said Phala.
She further said the DA urges MEC Ishmael Kgetjepe to provide desks, chairs and temporary mobile classrooms whilst initiating plans to fix the damaged block during this festive season.
“As DA led-government will continue prioritising the delivery of services like school infrastructure to enable a safe learning environment for our children,” she said.
Departmental Spokesperson, Sam Makondo, said they welcomed the DA’s complaints.
“The department is aware of all the damaged schools across the province as we have done our assessments and all the schools are on our list,” he said.
