Teaching at Ikhwili Primary and Siyazakha High School in Cwili outside Kei Mouth came to a standstill last week after angry parents closed the schools.
At the top of their list of demands is the immediate installation of new toilets, as the ones installed in 1997 when the schools opened were dysfunctional from the start, leaving only the staff toilets working.
Siyazakha SGB chairman Denzil Mkokeu said teaching had been affected at both schools, which were situated on the same grounds.
“When children need the toilet they either walk to the bushy area behind the school, go home to use the toilet or ask to use people’s toilets who live across the road from the school,” Mkokeu said.
“Many end up roaming the streets and not returning to school afterwards.
“The teachers aren’t able to go and look for them because that would mean leaving the other children unattended. In the end, our children are falling behind and we can’t blame the teachers for this.
“The younger ones are exposed to dangerous germs and they can’t even wash their hands because we have to switch the water off.
“We would rather they stay home until this matter is sorted.”
Ikhwili SGB chair Smally Lengesi said a goat had once given birth in a classroom.
“Cattle wander onto the school grounds freely. We have dung in almost every classroom and throughout the school.”
Concerned Grade 12 pupil Abenathi Woka, the pupil component of the SGB, said: “We are approaching exams and yet we are sitting at home instead of studying.
“These exams are so important because we need these results to apply for tertiary institutions.
“We are pleading with the education department to assist us with our problems because we are desperate for an education so we can better our lives,” she said.
Education department spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said a service provider had been appointed to provide temporary toilets, which would be delivered to the school by Friday.
He said the other issues affecting the school would be investigated and rectified as soon as possible. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Parents close dangerous schools
At the top of their list of demands is the immediate installation of new toilets, as the ones installed in 1997 when the schools opened were dysfunctional from the start, leaving only the staff toilets working.
Siyazakha SGB chairman Denzil Mkokeu said teaching had been affected at both schools, which were situated on the same grounds.
“When children need the toilet they either walk to the bushy area behind the school, go home to use the toilet or ask to use people’s toilets who live across the road from the school,” Mkokeu said.
“Many end up roaming the streets and not returning to school afterwards.
“The teachers aren’t able to go and look for them because that would mean leaving the other children unattended. In the end, our children are falling behind and we can’t blame the teachers for this.
“The younger ones are exposed to dangerous germs and they can’t even wash their hands because we have to switch the water off.
“We would rather they stay home until this matter is sorted.”
Ikhwili SGB chair Smally Lengesi said a goat had once given birth in a classroom.
“Cattle wander onto the school grounds freely. We have dung in almost every classroom and throughout the school.”
Concerned Grade 12 pupil Abenathi Woka, the pupil component of the SGB, said: “We are approaching exams and yet we are sitting at home instead of studying.
“These exams are so important because we need these results to apply for tertiary institutions.
“We are pleading with the education department to assist us with our problems because we are desperate for an education so we can better our lives,” she said.
Education department spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said a service provider had been appointed to provide temporary toilets, which would be delivered to the school by Friday.
He said the other issues affecting the school would be investigated and rectified as soon as possible. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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