Mams school waits for personal protective equipment on opening day
This as parents protested outside the school, claiming the Mamelodi West school did not have enough protective equipment for the returning learners.
Several parents of grade 6 learners at Refentse primary school would rather have their children repeat a year than going back to school “too soon” and contract Covid-19.
This as parents protested outside the school on Monday, claiming the Mamelodi West school did not have enough protective equipment for the returning learners.
Tumelo Mokitima, a member of the school governing body, said only about 20% of learners went back to the school on Monday as parents refused that their children attend any classes.
“The school should have done what they did when the grade 7 learners returned, and have the school cleaned and sanitised before learners could attend classes,” said Mokitima.
According to Mokitima, parents volunteered to help prepare for the grade 7 learners’ return but nothing like this was done in preparing for the grade 6s.
“School classrooms and premises must be cleaned as soon as possible.”
This was not the only issue that worried parents.
“The school has no electricity even though we have been complaining about it to the department for ages now,” said parent Brenda Nkgapela.
Nkgapela said the school has been without electricity for “almost a year now”.
Yet, the department “did nothing”.
“On several occasions, parents tried to engage with the Department of Basic Education with the help of the principal, but departmental officials only sent them from to pillar to post.
Mokitima said a cable supplying the school with electricity was stolen by criminals.
“Since the department was not willing to meet with the parents, they decided to hire a qualified electrician to fix the cable and power was briefly restored.”
He said the cable was installed underground out of fears that criminals might steal it, but after some rain it “exploded” and the school has been without any electricity ever since.
“We want our children back in schools as soon as possible. Being back with their teachers and friends is important for their education and well-being, but we want them to return to a safe environment.”
The department had not commented by the time of going to print.
READ MORE: Mixed feelings as more learners return to school this week
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