Poor infrastructure in Finetown Secondary School affects learning and teaching

Finetown Secondary School in Ennerdale South is plagued with many challenges ranging from poor infrastructure and severe shortage of resources.

The cargo containers converted into classrooms are old and dilapidated, which pose a serious risk to both teachers and learners. The community has demanded a brick and mortar school to be built, as the current school environment is not conducive for learning and teaching.

There are 1355 learners enrolled with 5 classes per grade. There is a severe shortage of classrooms, desks and chairs, which most pupils share or have to do without. There is overcrowding in classrooms, in the grade 11 classroom there are 68 learners while most classes average just over 60 learners.

In one of the grade 10 classrooms there are no chairs and desks, learners sit on the floor while others are taught standing.

This is unacceptable. Learners’ background must never determine their future destination.

There is no classroom for one grade 8 class, learners are taught outside under a short tree with not enough shade. When the weather is bad, two grade 8 classrooms are combined into one class with two teachers conducting lessons at the same time.

There are no sporting fields, no library, no laboratory and no equipment for experiments. Science teachers are borrowing equipment from other schools.

The school has performed well in the past three years. Grade 12 results have been above 85%. This prestigious achievement is because of the dedication of the educators lead an excellent management team. This school must be supported.

Time and again we see the department fail to plan and allocate resources where they are needed most. The department’s infrastructure budget was reduced from R3 billion to R2,3 billion because it failed to spend budget. As always it is the disadvantaged schools which are hardest hit.

I have written to the Gauteng Department of Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi informing him about the disappointing state of this school.

We will also be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to determine the department’s time line and action plan to upgrade this school.

We call upon the MEC to provide desks, chairs and additional temporary classrooms to this school as a matter of urgency. There is no child that is supposed to learn under a tree or sit on the floor.

All learners deserve a dignified learning environment. The DA will continue monitoring this school to ensure that it receives all the basic necessary resources.