Parents’ protest and water shortage disrupts schooling

Learners from Finetown Secondary School have been out of school since Monday due to continuous disruption of schooling by protesting parents and a shortage of water.

This, according to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho.

OVERCROWDING, SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS AND FURNITURE A PROBLEM

According to Ramulifhoe frustrated parents have been protesting over the shortage of teachers, overcrowding in classrooms and shortage of chairs and desks.

Parents demand that the rotational learning system ends and that the school infrastructure is fixed.

On Thursday, Ramulifho and the DA Johannesburg Ward 6 PR Councilor, Nonhlanhla Sifumba, conducted an oversight inspection at the school.

It was a shock to them to discover that there was no learning and teaching taking place at the school.

“The learners were standing outside the school gate while some were idling around the schoolyard,”

said Ramulifho.

He said the mobile classrooms are old and were erected 11 years ago; the infrastructure is dilapidated and is in dire need of regular maintenance.

The school has 1820 learners and the classrooms are severely overcrowded, which is not conducive to learning and teaching.

Ramulifho said learners deserve the dignity of learning in an adequate environment.

Furthermore, he said there are currently 36 teachers at the school, and the ratio is one teacher to 50 learners, which is unacceptable.

“There is also a shortage of teachers for the following subjects: Mathematics, Life Orientation, English, and Technology.

Despite the government ending the rotational learning system, teachers at this school are continuing with the rotational learning system due to a shortage of classrooms and teachers.

PARENTS URGED TO REFRAIN FROM PROTESTING

The DA has appealed to parents to refrain from disrupting schooling as it is affecting their children’s futures.

“We encourage them to find ways to engage with the department when there are matters of concern without disrupting learning and teaching.”

said Ramulifho.

He said they have engaged the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi demanding his immediate intervention to ensure that learning and teaching resume at this school.

They also demand that MEC Lesufi fix the school’s dilapidated infrastructure and provide the school with all the necessary resources needed for schooling.

The Da will also be tabling written questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to ascertain when the school will be replaced with a brick-and-mortar structure.

They also want to know when the school will be provided with teachers, furniture and additional classrooms as well as when the school infrastructure will be fixed.

“It is the responsibility of the department to eradicate all the ageing infrastructure and ensure that our schools have adequate classrooms, teachers and learning materials and equipment.”

said Ramulifho.

The Gauteng Education department is yet to respond to questions sent to them regarding the problems at the school.