The constant failure by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to provide a safe and dignified learning environment at the Danville Secondary School in Pretoria West is severely affecting the delivery of quality education.
Once again, learners at this school are paying the price for the GDE’s incompetence, as schools open without chairs and desks, a pattern that has regrettably become all too familiar in Gauteng.
During a recent oversight inspection by the Democratic Alliance (DA) at Danville Secondary School, following reports of parent protests, we uncovered deeply troubling conditions.
Shockingly, we witnessed parents themselves delivering much-needed desks and chairs from a neighbouring school, stepping in where the department has failed.
Last year, the school was forced to operate out of a neighbouring school hall, with four classrooms running simultaneously in one space. The mobile school that was later established was delivered without any furniture, forcing learners to sit on the floor for more than a week.
See photos here, here, here, here and here.
The school is severely understaffed and urgently requires at least 12 additional educators, with some classes now accommodating up to 50 learners. This is not conducive to effective teaching and learning.
Furthermore, toilets have not been connected to a sewage system due to a lack of bulk infrastructure. Learners are currently using mobile toilets, while the entire school must rely on a single water tap.
Despite repeated assurances from MEC Matome Chiloane about improving school infrastructure and conditions, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. These failures highlight a disturbing lack of urgency and care from the department towards our children’s well-being and education. Why do parents have to resort to protest before the department steps in?
A DA-led government would prioritise proper planning and accountability. We would ensure that no school opens without adequate infrastructure, sufficient educators, and basic services such as water and sanitation. Schools would be properly resourced before the academic year begins, and officials would be held accountable for delays and negligence. Yes, this can be done!
Our learners deserve better. The DA will continue to conduct oversight and fight for a safe, dignified, and supportive learning environment for every child in Gauteng.