Observatory East Primary School in desperate need of refurbishment

The DA led by the Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho MPL, DA Joburg East Constituency Head, Jack Bloom MPL and Joburg Ward 60 Councillor, Carlos da Rocha, conducted an oversight visit to Observatory East Primary School this morning.

Observatory East Primary School in Johannesburg was built in 1930 and is in desperate need of refurbishment.

Crumbling infrastructure resulted in a roof collapse at the school recently. An entire block of the school’s roof is starting to fall apart and structural defects can be observed. Two classrooms have already collapsed with a broken roof and ceiling.

The DA has asked the Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, to urgently intervene as learners are now using the school hall as a classroom.

Responding to DA questions in the Provincial Legislature yesterday, Premier David Makhura indicated that there is R12.5 billion set aside for infrastructure for schools in the province.

The DA urges MEC Lesufi to give this school the necessary support and renovations it needs, a perfect time for which would be during the upcoming school holidays.

The conditions at the school are not safe. Learners and teachers could be injured by the collapsing infrastructure.

The Gauteng Education department needs to ensure that learners and teachers are not placed in a high-risk environment that will see the quality of schooling deteriorate.