The director of Education visits ESD following protest action

The director of the Department of Basic Education Bucie Luthuli visited Ekurhuleni School for the Deaf after the school was taken over by the community, at Mofokeng section, Katlehong, on June 14.

This follows two days of learners boycotting classes to protest for better learning conditions and against the alleged mismanagement of funds by the school.

Luthuli met with stakeholders to listen to their concerns and to give recommendations. The stakeholders included the Ekurhuleni EFF, PAC, teachers, parents and community members.

The principal in question and SGB members were not present in the meeting.

Concerns raised by stakeholders during the meeting:

• Lack of food, toiletries for learners.

• Learners practice sex because they share single beds at the hostel.

• Learners have to share one blanket during the winter session.

• School transport is not reliable, learners arrive late at home, the drivers drink alcohol and sometimes they leave learners behind.

• Some parents were required to pay school fees in a non-paying school.

• Parents paid R20 for computer classes, according to parents the computers were donated to the school.

Demands raised by stakeholders

• The immediate removal of the principal, deputy principal and financial officer.

• The removal of the current SGB, the security company and feeding scheme.

• Immediate independent auditing.

• Immediate implementation of decaps skills.

• Learners need beds and blankets.

Recommendations by the director’s office

Luthuli said her department will investigate the allegations made against the school principal and other implicated individuals.

She tasked the deputy principal to form a group of five stakeholders comprising of a parent, teacher, community member, PAC and Ekurhuleni EFF member.

The team will engage with the office of the director and ensure that basics needs for learners are met during the process of finding a solution.

Background

On June 11 the Ekurhuleni EFF and concerned residents vowed to take over Ekurhuleni School for the Deaf following complaints raised by learners, parents and teachers about an alleged autocratic principal.

The learners burnt tyres inside the school premises during their demonstrations. The protest continued on Monday.

The regional chairperson of Ekurhuleni EFF Nkululeko Dunga said upon coming to the school they found burning tyres.

“It was difficult for us to communicate with the learners because the school is for muted and deaf children, but what we managed to understand what is going on, such as those at the school’s hostels left hungry,” said Dunga.

“We also found out that teachers are drinking and smoking during class hours. Learners are also complaining that the hostels are cold and they are made to sit down and sleep on the tile floor,” he said.

“There are also allegations that the principal is using monies fruitlessly.

“We have decided with other public representatives including political parties, the parents and community that we will take over the school until such a time that the department of education, the department of health or social development should come down to address us because we have tried to engage them,” said Dunga.

Nomsa Dlamini, one of the parents, tried to engage with the principal as a concerned parent.

“A group of volunteers are willing to help clean the school for free. I suggested this to the principal but she refused and said she does not have the authority to authorise it,” Dlamini.

“Children are affected because the school is dirty and hygiene is a huge problem,” she said.

ASLO READ: WATCH: Learners protest at Ekurhuleni School for the Deaf