The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an oversight visit at a Quintile 3 school, a non-paying fee school, to ensure accountability and monitor the government’s work. We were shocked at the state of the subpar facilities that the students are required to receive quality education in.
The school is underperforming in multiple aspects with a deficiency of two teachers posts remaining unfilled, a shortage of 307 chairs and tables for learners as well as not enough classrooms.
Furthermore, there is a desperate need for equipment and water towards the science labs and home economics classrooms which frequently do not have electricity.
This makes it challenging for students to perform practical’s.
The school has since inherited an Eskom bill and was advised that the district will pay the arrears account, however, they are still waiting. Currently the school tries to pay their current account although only 50% of parents pay donations making, this complicated.
Hygiene is also posing an issue as the toilets are not functioning because the water pressure is too low and there are sceptic trucks that come to remove the waste. This is made worse by the absence of JoJo tanks in the event of no water supply. This is creating a health hazard for the learners as proper sanitation is lacking.
Moreover, students are struggling to find scholar transport to school delaying them or halting them altogether from receiving the right to education.
This is all evident in the appalling low amount of 23 learners that were progressed by the department. Over aged learners (21 years to 23 years old) are still found in Grade 12.
The school also has many undocumented learners. This is a dilemma for learners because when undocumented children excel – after school they cannot access further learning due to no proper documentation. The mismanagement by the ANC-led municipality is seriously compromising the education of these young minds whose potential is being stunted by underfunding from the state, jeopardising their futures.