GALLERY: Still no new classrooms for Forest Hill Primary School
Teachers are forced to use a portion of the school hall as their staff room; they share the hall with the learners.
FOREST Hill Primary School in the South of Johannesburg is blaming the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) for their unfinished classrooms they were promised in 2017.
It has been almost two years since the GDE promised the school two extra classrooms. The school was told they need to take in more learners and they will be given extra classrooms. However, this has not materialised as the building material which will be used to build these classrooms is out in the open and deteriorating at the school premises.
Chairperson of the school governing body (SGB) Makda Williams said the school was instructed by the GDE to increase their intake for the 2017 academic year to resolve the pressure of placing new learners in the Southern suburbs.
“It was agreed that the school would receive two classrooms, furniture and an additional teacher. To date, the matter of the incomplete classrooms has not yet been resolved albeit that the principal and SGB engaged with the district office, head office and the contractor. Handing over of the classes was originally set for the end of April or beginning of May 2017,” she said.
Because of this situation, the school has resorted to using rooms like the teachers’ staff room, school hall, laboratory, library and computer room for learners. Teachers are forced to use a portion of the school hall as their staff room and they share the hall with the learners.
Both the school principal, Derrick Fourie, and Williams feel they have reached a brick wall regarding this matter because they have done almost everything in their power to solve the situation, but the department does not come to the party.
They said they appreciate MEC Panyaza Lesufi opening state-of-the-art schools around the province, but they want to know when this will be resolved and have their classrooms as promised.
The GDE was contacted via email with questions regarding this matter on February 25 and 27, a message was also sent to the spokesperson, Steve Mabona, on March 4 reminding him of the response, but no response was received as of March 6.
GALLERY:
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