DEAR Editor,-
At an inaugural meeting held recently, the School Governing Body (SGB) of Merlewood Primary School undertook to support the principal and the outgoing SGB in a drive to improve the school building.
They commended the staff on remaining professional by continuing teaching and using personal resources to create the best learning environment in classrooms, in spite of the poor condition of the building.
‘We will adopt the project of upgrading the school building, which was a focus of the outgoing SGB, by continuing to engage the district and provincial officials of the Department of Education (DOE). It is our intention to also seek assistance from businesses to assist with upgrading the school.’
Our children’s right to a safe and happy environment in the school will not be compromised. The learning programmes will not be interrupted or intentionally disturbed.
The efforts of school officials to highlight the unsuitability of the school building for teaching and learning, dates back to at least 2002. Correspondence to the DOE has been ongoing. The media have reported on the school’s problem after being approached by the SGB.
Promises have been made, but not fulfilled. The situation is no longer acceptable. DOE officials have stated the lack of funds as the primary reason for not addressing poor structural problems. The SGB does not accept this reason as valid and sincere, because they have witnessed other schools being upgraded and new schools being built in the Ugu district during this period.
District officials indicated to the previous SGB that the school was listed in the top five schools requiring upgrading. In addition to the lack of action, the building of a multi-purpose room scheduled for Merlewood Primary, was diverted to another school. The mistake was discovered by the DOE when the building was already at an advanced stage. Once again, the school lost out.
In 2012, the then Minister of Women and Children, Lulu Xingwana, visited the school and witnessed first-hand the desperate and urgent need to rebuild the school. School authorities were forced to arrange the removal of two unsafe buildings in 2014 due to lack of assistance from the Department of Works. They were assisted by a local church group.
The DOE placed six mobile classrooms as a temporary measure to alleviate some of the problems. However, these classrooms are not electrified, are unearthed and flooding during heavy rains make some inaccessible. The Department of Works has not been forthcoming in assisting with any of these issues.
The SGB appeals to any person or organisation who is willing to invest and assist with these problems to contact the school at 039 6854843. A meeting of concerned parents and other stakeholders will take place at the school on May 23 at 2pm.
MERLEWOOD PRIMARY SGB
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