Unhappy Ekucathuzeni Primary School parents say they are tired of their children going to school in shifts
The education department said the mobile classes will be delivered within two weeks while they are looking to find a permanent solution.
The parents of the learners attending Ekucathuzeni Primary School said they are tired of their children going to schools in shifts. Learning and teaching were affected after the parents decided to close the school by burning tyres at the gate on Monday, September 1.
A parent, who is also a member of the school governing body (SGB), Success Nkosi, said the school was badly damaged by heavy rains in February. He said that six classes were left without roofs and the walls were also damaged.
This problem is long overdue. The damage happened early this year. We expected the department to started fixing the school, or alternatively, give us the mobile classes they promised us,” said Nkosi.
He further explained that the school is over 80 years and it has never been renovated. The parents have blamed the department for delaying the delivery the promised mobile classes.
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The spokesperson of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, Bongani Dlamini, said the project of fixing the school will include the replacement of storm damaged roof coverings, roof trusses, ceilings, fascias and barge boards in classrooms, and the replacement of damaged electrical wiring and fittings in the administration block.
The spokesperson of the education department, Gerald Sambo, said after the storm damage, the school received a maintenance project. The department subsequently received a report from the principal agent responsible for the school indicating structural challenges with the two blocks of classrooms.
He said it was subsequently recommended that maintenance of classrooms be halted and alternative solutions be explored to address the challenges.
Upon receipt of the report, the district requested the procurement of mobile classrooms, as the alternative solution might take longer, and five mobile classes would be delivered within two weeks.
Sambo said the school was never closed, however, attendance is based on a interim rotational timetabling arrangement. The school management team and the SGB jointly agreed on a rotational arrangement for teaching and learning to take place while maintenance is ongoing.
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“We urge the parents and the SGB to collaborate with the department while we work on a permanent solution to address the school’s infrastructure needs,“ said Sambo.
