A group of concerned parents from Solomon Qatyana Primary School in Strand, Cape Town, organised protests this week, demanding the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) fulfil what they claim was a promise to build a new school before the 2025 school year begins.
However, the WCED denies such a commitment was ever made.
According to News24, the school has been shut down since Monday, with parents and the school governing body (SGB) refusing to allow their children to return until they are given a definitive timeline for the construction of a new school.
The existing mobile classrooms, which have served as the school’s temporary setup since 2005, are located on a parking lot near a local field, and many parents say the conditions are unsuitable for learning.
IOL reported that parents and pupils gathered outside the school throughout the week, demonstrating with signs that read ‘Education for the children’ and ‘Children deserve proper school structures.’ The protests were met with a police presence as the situation escalated.
Thembinkosi Mgculo, the chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Asanda Village, told IOL about the extreme conditions within the mobile classrooms, particularly during temperature fluctuations.
‘It’s unbearable in there, whether it’s too hot or too cold,’ he said. ‘We can’t allow the children to continue learning in these conditions.’
Both parents and teachers are unified in their call for better facilities, with Mgculo emphasising that temporary structures like these should not be in place for extended periods as they pose health risks.
The WCED told News24 that no promise was made to replace the mobile classrooms by 2025, though they did acknowledge expanding school access in the area with the development of a new school precinct in Lwandle. They also emphasised that any disruption to school operations is unlawful and affects the education of students.
Also read:
Picture: Screenshot / Google Maps
