Another week has passed with no lessons underway at Dulcie September Primary School in Rabie Ridge.

Frustrated parents continue to keep their children at home, stating they cannot allow learning to take place in an unsafe, deteriorating school environment.

The prolonged standoff reached a new peak on May 6, when parents and community members took to the streets, barricading roads with rocks and burning tyres in the early hours of the morning.

The protest brought movement in and out of the area to a standstill, as residents demanded urgent intervention from the Gauteng department of education (GDE) over long-standing infrastructure and safety concerns at the school.

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Community leader Calvin Bantham said the action followed repeated attempts to resolve the matter through official channels, which he claims have yielded no progress.

“We respectfully but firmly demand immediate delivery and installation of mobile temporary classrooms, provision of safe sanitation facilities, including mobile toilets, clear and consistent communication from the department and school management, and a structured academic recovery plan to address lost learning time.”

Parents said the shutdown, while disruptive to education, has become a last resort after years of unresolved concerns. Earlier in the year, the GDE indicated that some repairs had been carried out, including work on doors and windows, but residents insist the issues remain unresolved.

Resident Shaida Sutton, who lives opposite the school, said multiple engagements have taken place with the school governing body, departmental officials, and even the office of the MEC, but without tangible improvement on the ground.

“These meetings included stakeholders and departmental representatives, but there has been no real accountability or visible progress. We continue to raise concerns about unsafe classrooms, delays in mobile classrooms, inadequate sanitation, and poor communication from authorities.”

Another parent, Sibusiso Gibashe, said the situation has now placed learners’ constitutional right to education at risk.

“The children have the right to education, but when you look at the conditions, falling ceilings, unsafe containers, and poor sanitation, you will understand why we are taking this stand. We have raised these issues for years. It is not new, and we feel ignored.”

Gibashe added that parents are proposing an urgent return to learning once conditions are addressed, alongside catch-up programmes, including possible use of school holidays to recover lost time.

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Another community leader, George Henry, said: “The children are being affected by continuing to stay at home, especially those in the foundation phase. They have already lost valuable time in the foundation stage, which is very important for their learning and development.

Many learners are struggling academically and socially because they are missing classroom interaction and daily support from teachers.”

Meanwhile, chairperson of the quality learning and teaching campaign circuit 3 Develd Monyai said their presence during the protest was to monitor developments and ensure learner safety remains a priority.

“Learner safety comes first. While we acknowledge the concerns raised, disruptions that deny learners access to education cannot be the first or only solution. We are ready to facilitate mediation and continue working with all stakeholders to restore a safe and functional learning environment.”

He also urged calm, warning against violence or vandalism during protests, and called for all parties to pursue lawful and constructive dialogue as efforts continue to resolve the standoff.

Midrand Reporter contacted the GDE on May 6 for a comment.

The department had not responded by the time of publication despite follow-up on May 11.

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