Shocking conditions at two schools in Zululand
This was the outcome of a school's functionality inspection by the Democratic Alliance (DA) last week, which revealed the shocking state of many schools where pupils are trapped in a grip of poverty and their education is jeopardised by an unproductive learning environment
BROKEN toilets smeared with faeces, overcrowding, drug abuse and teenage pregnancies paint a bleak picture at two schools in Zululand which were recently listed among the worst facilities in KZN.
This was the outcome of a school’s functionality inspection by the Democratic Alliance (DA) last week, which revealed the shocking state of many schools where pupils are trapped in a grip of poverty and their education is jeopardised by an unproductive learning environment.
Broken windows, shocking infrastructure and appalling ablution facilities were found at Nomathiya High School in Mtubatuba.
To make matters worse, DA MPL and KZN spokesperson on education, Dr Imran Keeka, said it was found that the school was severely overcrowded and that absenteeism and no-care attitudes by both educators and pupils presented further challenges.
Mthombowesizwe High School in Ehethani, Nongoma, is plagued by substance abuse and teenage pregnancies.
The school is vandalised, overcrowded and lacks many essential resources such as qualified teachers.
‘There is widespread vandalism and theft of property, particularly at night when there is no security. Administration clerks are being used as teachers.’
Keeka said that child-headed households and teenage pregnancies were the norm at many schools, particularly those visited in the Zululand area.
‘Learner transport, or the lack thereof, was one of the most prominent issues. There are learners who have to walk tens of kilometres daily to and from school.
‘Many of the schools visited are malfunctioning, not because of the pupils, but owing to adults who are not able to work together to find solutions.’
In his speech during the release of the 2019 matric results, KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, admitted that with KZN being primarily rural, many schools suffered from poor infrastructure. Budget constraints within the department presented a huge problem.
He said then that plans were under way to revamp some schools and that last year, ten learning centres had been built in the province.
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