Africa-Press – South-Africa. Some Soweto high school pupils are forced to learn in unhygienic and dangerous conditions.
These pupils have battled for chairs and tables every morning since schools opened on Wednesday.
Teachers and pupils at Sebetsa-O-Thole Moputso High School in Snake Park, Soweto, who spoke anonymously, said it was a “first come, first served” arrangement for Grade 8 to Grade 11 pupils to find a seat.
“Those who arrive early are lucky to grab chairs. They go into classrooms taking chairs and tables of those who haven’t arrived. About three of four pupils share a table to avoid sitting on the floor. The most affected are our new pupils, the Grade 8s. The pupils are overcrowded in old, decaying mobile classrooms,” a teacher said.
According to the teacher, the pupils are forced to sit on the floor, share chairs or sit on tables.
News24 visited the school on Friday and confirmed that this was the case.
As teachers gave class, some pupils sat on the floor and others sat on top of old tables.
“We come from primary schools where we had everything. Our arrival here is unpleasant. We fight for chairs and tables. We sit on the floor, leaving our clothes dirty. Those from older grades threaten us with violence when we want to take back our chairs. We are afraid of them,” a Grade 8 pupil told News24.
Another pupil said she regretted coming to the school.
“Why must I come to school knowing I will be wet? If these conditions persist in winter, many of us will not come to school,” the pupil said.
Sibusiso Ngubane, a member of the school governing body since 2021, said the battle for chairs had been happening for some time.
“Since I have been part of this school, furniture has been our biggest challenge. The most affected are Grades 8 up to Grade 11. Our matriculants are fortunate because they all have furniture. We have been complaining to the department for years. Our predecessors have also been complaining about the same matter. What is shocking is if we ask for a certain number of chairs and tables, we will receive half that number.
“Our children are battling to concentrate. They are expected to produce results under such conditions. Our plea is for the department to supply us with adequate furniture before some children become disgruntled and drop out,” said Ngubane.
Earlier this week, the Gauteng Department of Education claimed that between 2021 and 2022 it had procured furniture to the value of R180 million, and most deliveries were completed.
The department said 459 primary and 267 secondary schools received furniture during the same period.
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