OCTOBER 2016
Member of The Association of Independent Publishers Editorial Tel. 084 229 6399 | 021 422 0412 | Editorial Address: 85 St. George’s Mall Cape Town.
DUNOON | JOE SLOVO PARK | WOLVERIVIER | KWA 5 | KILLARNEY GARDENS | MONTAGUE GARDENS | MILNERTON | TABLE VIEW | WITSAND
Teachers shut down school W
ith just 27 days left to complete the fourth and final term of the 2016 academic year, teachers at Dunoon Primary School, supported by some parents, shut down the school on Friday, October 14. This is because they are fed up with an environment unconducive to learning and teaching. Huge holes in the ceilings, broken window panes, broken toilets and other structural issues characterise the Dunoon Primary School. Classrooms are undersized for
large and small group instruction; to top it all, vandalism and break-ins are common occurances. “Some classes don’t have electricity. They were vandalised by the community. They steal electricity cables and switches. The school has spent large amounts replacing the stolen electricity cables and switches. With the recent repair work we undertook we spent about R30 000 but they came back soon after and vandalised the classrooms again stealing everything new,” said an educator who opted not to be named for fear of facing reprisals.
The teacher said because the classrooms are undersized, they are overcrowd. In extremely hot conditions last summer, some pupils fainted; a cause for concern. She said teachers complain that it is difficult for pupils to concentrate on lessons when temperatures rise too high or too low. She said the other major issue is human dignity: “The toilets are blocked. They emit a foul stench. Water contaminated with urine and faeces run past Grade R classes and Grade 3 classes are situated next to the toilets,” she said. ~continued on page 3
Teachers protest against a bad learning and teaching environment at the school. - PHOTO: ISOLABANTU