The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West will write to the MEC for Department of Education, Wendy Matsemela, requesting her urgent intervention at the Setshwarapelo Primary School in Mokgareng Village, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
Since the establishment of the school in 1986, no renovations have been made to the dilapidated structure, leaving learners vulnerable to the collapse of walls. This building will not withstand any unusual weather conditions such as strong winds or heavy rains. Download pictures click here, here and here
Today, during an oversight inspection by the North West Provincial Legislature Committee on Education, Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, it came to light that, despite several previous visits, none of the recommendations made by the Committee have been implemented.
This demonstrates the Department’s contempt to the Legislature in its oversight role and is an offence in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act 4 of 2004.
In addition, like most North West schools, this school is overcrowded and lack basic furniture such as tables and chairs. The school has a standing arrangement with another school to make use of their furniture and in turn their evening classes are presented there.
The Grade 7 class consist of 63 learners, which inevitably limits the individual attention that each learner is entitled to.
Following these shocking findings, we will also write to the South African Human Rights Commission to report the violation of learners’ basic rights to education. It is further in contravention of their right to be educated in a safe and secure environment.
From our discussions with the staff of the school, it is clear that this school has been forgotten by the Department and no funding is made available. Upon enquiries to the Department of Education, the school has been told that “there is no budget”.
The school is located in one of the poorest communities in the province and is classified as a Quintile 1 school. We are of the view that this alone should qualify their needs as top priority.
The Department of Education is the biggest beneficiary of the provincial budget, receiving an amount of R17 billion for this financial year. Their inability to aptly apply these funds, is therefore astounding.
In the previous financial year, the Department forfeited R125 million of their infrastructural budget, as they only managed to spend 51% of their total Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG). This is a clear indication that the misappropriation of funds by this Department is common practice.
Every child in this province has the right to quality education and this can only be achieved in an environment conducive to learning. To this end, we will continue our fight to ensure that no learner is excluded from opportunities due to infrastructural limitations and lack of political will.