Basic education minister optimistic about Eureka
“We received many complaints from the community about this school. The residents claim the learners from this school are always loitering around town and they are not producing the best results.”
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga paid a visit to Eureka High School on Monday.
“We received many complaints from the community about this school. The residents claim the learners from this school are always loitering around town and they are not producing the best results,” said Motshekga.
She stated it was disheartening to hear such reports.
“The impression of the community is that the school is failing. We need to understand what the issues are. Where did the wheels come off?
“If it is the foot that is broken, we know where to fix it,” she added.
The school was placed under administration in 2020 by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE). They were the worst-performing suburban school in Springs, with only 54% of learners passing matric. This is a drop from 68.1% in 2019.
The school performed poorly even though they participated in the Secondary School Improvement Programme.
“I get discouraged when schools only focus on Grade 12 results. By the time the learners are in Grade 12, it is too late to intervene.
“It is very important to understand the importance of education holistically,” Motshekga said.
Also read: Springs matriculants excel
As part of the GDE’s intervention programme, Jabu Mabuza was made administrator of the school in October.
Mabuza believes one of the school’s greatest challenges is the lack of orientation for Grade Eight learners.
“They are usually the ones who are causing problems, more than learners in higher grades. We will be meeting with parents of Grade Eight learners to give them the code of conduct.
“This is so they are aware of what is expected of them, as learners,” he said.
Mabuza admitted their assessment processes were not effective.
“Somewhere, somehow, as managers, we are not doing justice to the system and the learners,” he added.
The school’s Class of 2021 achieved a 66.9% pass rate.
“The quality of the results is good because 30 of the learners received bachelor’s degree passes. Forty-two learners achieved diploma passes and 23 got higher certificate passes,” said Mabuza.
Sarah Seete, circuit manager for Gauteng East at the GDE, admitted there is community concerns about the school’s condition.
Also read: MEC intervenes at Eureka Secondary School
“There are issues of unity of the staff. There is a serious problem of discipline. We have since found that there is a lack of capacity from the SGB to deal with disciplinary issues.
“There is no structure for disciplinary processes. Then we roped in SGB’s from a neighbouring school to help set up the structures,” she said.
Seete said there is an issue of drug trafficking and abuse among the learners.
Last Tuesday, Springs police searched the school. The search was carried out by sector managers, the Social Crime Prevention Unit and the communication department.
“The purpose of the search was to curb the use and selling of drugs to learners. The search yielded positive results when one learner was found in possession of drugs and cigarettes and a knife was seized from another leaner,” explained Capt Johannes Ramphora, communications officer of Springs SAPS.
Seete said, “I still believe there is potential in the school. But we need to deal with the heart of the teachers.
“I feel the teachers at Eureka are despondent and they feel the management of the school does not support them adequately.”
In her closing remarks, Motshekga said she is committed to the resolution of the school’s troubles.
“Of my many school visits to excelling schools, I have found they all have unity among staff, committed learners and supportive parents,” she said.
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