The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply frustrated that the Gauteng Education MEC , Panyaza Lesufi has not yet provided alternative temporary classrooms at Carleton Jones High.
The department is aware of the severe challenge posed by the lack of classrooms at this school yet nothing has been done to ensure effective learning and teaching.
The school was hit by tremor in 2008 and the building cracked.
On the 5th of April this year learners and teachers felt some unusual movement in the classrooms. The department was informed, and the West Rand District Local municipality sent engineers to the school to assess the integrity of the classrooms which they declared unsafe for teaching and learning.
The DA observed that the school has a shortage of 30 classrooms.
The school opted to combine grade 8 and 9 learners in one class, while grade 10 and 11 learners were also combined in one class.
These two overcrowded classes with over 140 learners are alternating which means only one class per day while other learners remain at home.
The learners are not taught every day which has a significant impact on them completing the curriculum.
The parents are now removing their children from this school; the number of learners have decreased from 1062 at the beginning of this term to 1048 learners.
The department is depriving these learners of access to basic education which is completely unacceptable.
I will write to MEC Lesufi requesting that his department provide alternative classrooms as a matter of urgency.