Parents have blocked the entrance to a primary school in Mamelodi, Tshwane in protest about overcrowding which has seen at least 70 pupils crammed in one classroom while others are being taught under trees.
Sediba sa Thuto Primary School’s infrastructure is so poor that the 36 mobile classrooms have started to crumble and the toilets do not work, forcing children to relieve themselves on floors of the two unused and dilapidated classrooms. The school also does not have enough furniture and some pupils have to use crates as chairs.
On Tuesday morning, parents said enough was enough and blocked teachers from gaining entry into the school property. They were demanding the department of education take action by providing more mobile classes and fix the infrastructure.
When Sowetan arrived at the school, some staff members were seated in their cars while some pupils were walking back to their homes and others chose to sit outside and read their books on pavements.
“I’m so disappointed at what I witnessed last week when my daughter was being taught in a leaking mobile classroom while it was raining. The department of education is not taking our matter seriously and now our children must suffer,” said angry parent Vincent Makena.
He said overcrowding was not new at the school, however it was exacerbated after the government’s decision last month to scrap rotational school attendance.
“That is when we noticed that there are too many pupils at school. Some are being taught under the school shelter and about 70 pupils in classrooms share chairs, tables and others sit on the floor and crates. We wrote the memorandum in February to the department of education and gave them 14 days to respond but they never responded.
“In 2012 the department of education promised the parents that they will build a school but we are still waiting for the school. The mobile classrooms have been there for the past 15 years,” said Makena.
He said the protest will continue until the department fixes the infrastructure and gives them the date of the construction of the new school.
Another parent, Mahlatsi Mokwana, said: “I get so hurt and I cry when I see a picture of my daughter sitting on a crate. I asked myself too many questions and I do not have an answer. I would like the department to attend to this as a matter of urgency.”
Ward councillor of ward 97 Ananias Mokgalotsi said in January he came to the school and he was never told about the problem. He said he was waiting for the department to show them budget allocations for the construction of the new school.
Gauteng department of education spokesperson Steve Mabona said they were aware of the situation at the school and that they have made a commitment to deliver more mobile classrooms in the future.
“We implore that parents and the school community at large refrain from engaging in disruptive behaviour and further concerns and issues that may be prevalent in the school are being investigated to be addressed accordingly,” said Mabona.
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