ActionSA Gauteng Provincial chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni joined by Provincial Executive Committee member, Dereleen James visited three underperforming high schools on January 25 to evaluate their challenges and infrastructure.
The aim of the visit was to assess the schools that are mainly plagued by social ills which in turn compromise learning and achieving their greatest potential.
These schools were Klipspruit West Secondary School, Eldomaine Secondary School and Missouri Secondary School.
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James, a community activist from Eldos said, “As ActionSA we realised that education is the key tool towards improving living conditions of many families strapped in poverty and unemployment. It is therefore of utmost importance that we continue to engage this sector towards achieving social and economic prosperity.”
The party mentioned that the visited schools lack social inclusivity that will speak to the learners’ emotional ability.
“ActionSA has engaged thousands of South Africans over the past years and what came out strongly is the need for social workers to be deployed at schools.
“We believe that addressing education is the start to reshaping the education system,” said James.
It is common that almost every January school reopening, learners and educator are deemed to face the same challenges of poor infrastructure, vandalism and not enough learning supplies.
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These same challenges have been identified as contributing towards resentment and anger amongst young people who attend these schools. They can also contribute to young people dropping out of school.
James explained that, “Township education is definitely not prioritised. As an activist who has worked closely with the youth within my community, it’s disheartening to see Grade 11 and 12 learners who are unable to read. But yet get promoted by the Department as a result of their age and to make their stats look good.”
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