Schools crisis at boiling point
Overcrowding and staff problems were behind protests at Stanger High and Tinley Manor Primary School.
Unrest at two schools this week past has placed the spotlight on education issues rife among North Coast government schools.
Overcrowding and staff problems were behind protests at Stanger High and Tinley Manor Primary School.
The massively overcrowded Tinley Manor Primary School in Etete’s Velani Township was closed down by angry parents last Thursday.
About 1 400 pupils and their teachers will continue idling at home until the education department releases a date for the start of construction of new classrooms.
Velani Township ANCYL secretary Sphamandla Khumbuza said they have been writing letters to the department since 2004 but nothing had been done.
“We are left with no option but to close the school. You cannot have 120 pupils in one class. How do you expect the children to learn in that situation?” said Khumbuza.
In March last year the Courier reported on the school that was bursting at the seams with two classes of over 100 pupils and an average of 50 pupils per classroom in the rest of the school.
Also read: School pupils out of control in Ilembe
In November we reported that while the education department had promised construction would start by September last year no action had been taken and no explanation had been received.
The department visited the school last week but they were sent away and instructed to bring officials from the provincial offices. The education department could not be reached for a comment at the time of going to print.
Meanwhile a protest of Stanger High pupils and teachers has reportedly resulted in the resignation of principal Jaichand Singh, after 45 years working as a teacher and 16 years at Stanger High School.
Hundreds of children from the school took to the streets last week Wednesday to voice their anger at the firing of their mathematics teacher.
https://www.facebook.com/northcoastcourier/videos/1799226756763330/
The pupils made their way down Chief Albert Luthuli Street and King Shaka Street in Stanger to the department of education district office, where they handed over a memorandum.
The pupils were also calling for principal Singh to be recalled, accusing him of being xenophobic and racist against the teacher.
“He is is very unprofessional. How can you dismiss someone over the phone?” asked grade 12 pupil Hope Zukhali.
The pupils described their teacher, who is a foreign national, as a very good teacher who was always prepared to go the extra mile for them.
This was not the first time pupils have protested in support of this teacher. Last year March, pupils protested when he was previously dismissed.
It is understood that the teacher has been reinstated and teaching has resumed.
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