The Democratic Alliance has appealed to the Northern Cape Education Department for urgent intervention. This comes only a day after Deben Primary School was closed by parents due to overcrowding and school waiting list placements that have not yet been addressed by the department.
Delportshoop High School has not had mathematics or Afrikaans teachers since the 2023 school year commenced. The school previously requested appointments from the department.
The school’s hostel has also been unable to cater for the learners. There is no food for the 62 hostel children, causing them to be sent home indefinitely. The department allocates R500 per child, per month. This money is meant to cover meals and infrastructure maintenance.
The infrastructure at the school is falling apart. There is significant water damage to the collapsing ceilings. When it rains, the kitchen gets soaked. The hostel bedrooms and bathrooms, for both boys and girls, also do not have locks, posing a further danger to the learners.
Children at Dikgatlong High School were also sent home because of a lack of teachers.
The accumulating loss of learning time in core subjects is detrimental to the learners, especially the four matriculants who resided at the Delportshoop High Hostel, whose final year has gotten off to a doubly disadvantageous start.
Three weeks into the school year, the critical issues being experienced at these schools should be a top priority for the Education Department, yet the department fails to respond.
The DA will urgently engage with the MEC of Education to ascertain what interventions will be instituted to save the school year for the learners of Delportshoop. I will also submit a request to the NCOP’s Select Committee to arrange urgent oversight of the affected schools.
All children deserve the opportunity to receive a quality education, and no child deserves to have their future held back by an unorganised education department.