The Democratic Alliance Youth in North West is deeply concerned about the health and safety of learners at the Boitumelo Primary School in Bethel near Mafikeng and has therefore written to the MEC for Education Sello Lehari to urgently investigate the dire circumstances at the school.
The total collapse of the infrastructure is unsafe and the ablution facilities for the learners are a disgrace and undermine their dignity. See photos here, here and here.
During an oversight today, Wednesday 14 February 2018, we found that approximately 200 learners share seven classrooms for Grade 1 to Grade 7. A temporary structure is used for the Gr R-learners.
One building that can be used as a classroom is used as a kitchen.
All the Grade 3 to Grade 7 learners use pit toilets that don’t flush.The junior learners make use of the other toilets that are out of order and have worms nested in the toilet seats.This is the result of poor infrastructure maintenance and incompetent procurement procedures.
Despite the Minimum Norms and Standards of School Infrastructure, which were promulgated by the minister, big parts of the infrastructure is mud, asbestos and wood. A clear indication that the Department of Education does not adhere to set standards and regulations.
The World Health Organisation banned the trade of asbestos as there are 100 000 asbestos-related deaths per year.
Yet disturbingly, our learners and teachers are at risk daily in asbestos schools.
It is inhumane to continue to risk the health and safety of learners, teachers, school administrative staff and the entire school community through the continued exposure of asbestos due to the poor infrastructure.
We need total change in the North West where the health and safety of learners and educators are a top priority. Schools need to be a conducive environment for learning in order to prepare our youth for the future.