The desire to embrace education is stifled by uninspiring surroundings.
Following complaints from parents and former learners, a surprise oversight inspection was conducted at Hoërskool Die Burger on February 28. Democratic Alliance Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho, was joined by new Ward 86 councillor, Chantelle Fourie-Shawe as they toured the school grounds to identify problematic areas as expressed by the community.
Apart from issues of learner discipline and claims of a lack of a structured teaching timetable, dilapidated infrastructure is an eyesore throughout the school. A multitude of broken windows, disused classrooms and wild overgrowth were just a few examples of neglected maintenance. The school hall, always meant as the heart and pride of a school, has a partially collapsed ceiling with bird droppings covering the decades old wooden floor.
An alarming claim was the belief that families had hijacked classrooms towards the back of the school premises. The oversight party confirmed that two prefabricated classrooms close to the Bergbron Drive boundary of the school building were housing families with members ranging from an elderly woman to a small child. The families had unobstructed access to a side gate and even had pets, a white kitten and a dog, which had defecated along the walkway.
The school’s leadership were unable to comment, other than to say they had sought assistance from the Gauteng Department of Education, while Shadow MEC Ramulifho was told that eviction proceedings had been initiated against the illegal dwellers.
The Gauteng Department of Education has been contacted for comment and feedback will be shared when it is forthcoming.
