The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) in Alexandra instructed learners in various schools, including Realogile Secondary School and Alex High, to leave their classrooms and go home on Tuesday afternoon, citing worsening infrastructure challenges.

Cosas spokesperson in Alexandra Cebo Mahaye confirmed that the student body was behind the closure of high schools, specifically targeting grades 8 to 11.

He said their decision follows years of neglected concerns about the state of infrastructure in all the high schools in Alex. “We have a problem with infrastructure. We have a problem about a building in Alex High. There is a building that is shaking, and we are approaching three years now since we have been engaging with them and having meetings with the department of education.”

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He added that Cosas has been engaging with authorities for far too long and it now has no words left for the department.

Mahaye alleged that at the new Satellite School, some learners are taught outside in the parking lot. He said that is not a place for learners to learn, adding that he has pictures and videos to prove it, although these are yet to be seen by Alex News.

He claimed that learners at Minerva Secondary, East Bank High, and Realogile Secondary are also complaining about furniture shortages. Alex News recently reported on ailing infrastructure at East Bank and Minerva.

Mahaye said these challenges are prevalent in Alex schools, including primary schools, but, for now, their focus is only set on high schools.

“Learners are complaining about furniture, and in every school, we have also seen that. We went to all the schools and we saw it. As a parent, you can’t allow your child to go to school and be met with issues like this. I have videos and pictures of learners writing on the floor. It is painful.”

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He also emphasised that overcrowding is a serious crisis in Alexandra high schools, and that learners are not happy to receive education under the current circumstances. Mahaye accused government of being too quiet on issues affecting learners, including furniture and stationery.

Musa Mabika, spokesperson for Community Guardians, whose members are stationed at schools to ensure learner safety, confirmed that Cosas began shutting down schools on Monday. He noted that learners could return next Monday. However, Mahaye insisted they will not return until the department of education responds to their challenges.

“We won’t sit down with them. We don’t have time for that. Two years back, we had meetings, and we wrote to them. We are tired of that. Now, we must take action.”
He added that Cosas is prepared to ensure that learners get what they need in Alexandra schools.

Alex News reached out to the Provincial department of education for comment. An update will be provided once their response has been received.

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