Eldorado Park school learners continue to suffer terrible learning conditions

Dear Editor

Eldorado Park learners are being taught in a terrible and unconducive learning environment. This was discovered during the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) oversight inspections at Nancefield Primary School, Parkdale Primary School, and Kliptown Secondary School to assess schools’ readiness.

Nancefield Primary School has a severe shortage of chairs for the learners, even after the school had to borrow 100 chairs from a neighbouring school. This school also faces uncertainty because the company that provides the mobile classrooms is threatening to remove them due to non-payment by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).

In Kliptown Secondary School and Parkdale, learners continue being taught in asbestos classrooms which is a risk to their health and safety. In addition, the classrooms are overcrowded, there is a shortage of toilets, and there is no feeding scheme. There are over 1200 learners at Kliptown Secondary School, which has only 10 toilets each for boys and girls.

No nutritional support at Kliptown Secondary School is a slap in the face of those in desperate need of the feeding scheme. We will, therefore, be exerting pressure on the GDE to lower its quintile level and provide the needed diet.

The DA demands that the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, prioritise the completion of Nancefield Primary School. Providing a permanent facility will remove the uncertainty about the school and it will ensure learners have access to a safe and secure learning environment.

The DA will further continue to put pressure on MEC Chiloane to accelerate the eradication of asbestos classrooms, which are a clear violation of human rights. We will insist that the department build more classrooms and provide regular and proper maintenance.

We will also be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to both the MEC for Education and Infrastructure Development to ascertain whether a contractor has been appointed to complete the construction of Nancefield Primary School.

Regards

Sergio Dos Santos MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Education