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MEC Lesufi, Restore Power To Tshwane West Education District Office

Tshwane West Education District

The Tshwane West Education District office has no electricity supply, negatively impacting on the ability of schools in the area to carry out their duties.

The DA conducted an oversight visit to the office today, only to find that the office has been without electricity since Monday. There have been no assurances from the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) as to when power will be restored to the facility.

As the new school year has only just got underway, it is beyond belief that there are already challenges like this at the Tshwane West Education District office. This will have a substantial impact on teaching and learning.

Financial Shortfall

It is not clear whether the situation is due to a financial shortfall, as has been experienced in the case of teachers who marked 2016 grade 12 examination papers.

District offices must always be capacitated, so that quality services are rendered to schools. Staff at this office have been reporting to work yet cannot perform their duties.

Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, must urgently rectify this situation before another critical week of school support is lost.

 

 

Media enquiries:

Khume Ramulifho MPL

DA Gauteng Education Shadow MEC

082 398 7375

[Image source]

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MEC Lesufi Must Prioritise Basic School Infrastructure

Willow Crescent Secondary School

The DA visited the Willow Crescent Secondary School in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, to assess infrastructure conditions as classrooms were burnt down 5 years ago.

Since the fire in the 2011, three classroom have not been repaired. Conditions at the school are appalling and not conducive to teaching or learning.

The school structures are in violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and has been served with an order to comply with Environmental Health Standards.

Deteriorating Infrastructure

The schools lights don’t function, classrooms have no doors, toilets are not meeting norms and standards and ceilings are falling apart.

Despite the crumbling infrastructure, Willow Crescent has managed a Matric pass rate of 73% in the 2015 academic year.

The DA has submitted questions to the MEC for oral reply in the Legislature to establish whether there are any plans to fix the deteriorating infrastructure.

The DA will propose alternative solutions to prioritise school infrastructure in this year’s budget debate vote.

Conducive learning and teaching environments are non-negotiable. Instead of spending R90 million in building one school, the MEC must focus on getting the basics right in all schools in the province.

 

Media enquiries:

Khume Ramulifho MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education

082 398 7375

[Image source]