Enraged parents of Cullinan Extension 10 have vowed to shut down the local Chipa Tabane Comprehensive School until learners living in Extension 10 get relocated to a new school in Extension 10 of Cullinan.
Since last week Friday parents disrupted classes and no teaching and learning at the school.
Teachers and learners are sitted outside because parents forcefully removed them from school yard.
They are waiting for the department of education to relocate them.
The parents are of the opinion that Chipa Tabane Comprehensive School is overcrowded and that more than 300 learners can’t attend any classes as the available classrooms are full.
One parent pointed out that her child shares a chair with another learner and that this is uncomfortable.
She pointed out that a new school has been built in Cullinan Extension 10 and that learners who reside in Extension 10 should be relocated there so that there can be space for learners who will remain at Chipa Tabane Comprehensive School.
Sophie Lobelo whose two children are in grade 8 at the school lamented the fact that their children come to school every day only to sit out of classrooms because the classrooms are overcrowded and they therefore receive no education at all.
Extension 10 resident George Sibiya who also has a child at Chipa Tabane told Tshwane Talks that a school made up of containers has already been built in Cullinan Extension 10 last year and that the children who come from Cullinan Extension 10 must be relocated to the new school with immediate effect.
“Every year the children must go to the new school we are given excuses that there is no furniture at the new school but in my opinion this is a lousy excuse as we as parents can carry the desks and all the furniture that is needed from Chipa Tabane to the new school and I am worried that the first term of schooling will be wasted as the kids are not attending classes at all,” he said.
“Everything is okay at the new school of containers and all that is needed there are desks, learners and teachers,” emphasised Sibiya.
Elias Phakathi told Tshwane Talks that he has served as chairperson of SGB at Chipa Tabane until 2024 and that they have not been given reasons as to why the learners can’t be relocated to the new school.
Agnes Makgalathiba complained that learners were supposed to be relocated to the new school last year in June but up until now that has not happened.
“We were told that the solar system at the new school has been stolen and that is the reason learners can’t be relocated there and our concern is that some learners are getting education while others sit outside classrooms, so we are appealing to the powers that be across all nine provinces to help us to get the new school opened,” she said.
“One might be under the impression that our children attend classes but the reality is that they are not, and this will lead to a situation whereby they end up in shacks smoking drugs, having sex, getting pregnant or getting sicknesses,” she said.
“The school hasn’t had a principal for two to three years and we are operating with a deputy principal,” said Makgalathiba.
“I am appealing to Petro Diamond mine, the biggest mine in Africa, to lend a hand in buying furniture for the school and making sure that the new school starts operating because my opinion is that the mine does not help us at all as a community,” she said.
By the time of publishing the story Department of education did not respond to Tshwane Talks.
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