Sunnyside Primary parents up in arms

Storm damage to school’s roof not fixed, too few mobile classrooms

PARENTS at Sunnyside Primary bemoan the state of the Athlone school building after it had been damaged in the recent storms that lashed Cape Town. The weather forced the school to close and 600 pupils had to stay at home.

The Western Cape Education Department erected four mobile classrooms, but the parents say it isn’t enough.

The storms damaged sections of the school’s roof last week, which poses a hazard to pupils.

“I’m putting my child at risk here. I don’t understand why they don’t just put in more mobile classrooms,” said Iloma de Bruyn at a parents’ meeting.

They accused the department of putting their children’s lives at risk.

The department said contractors have removed the rubble at the school, along with potentially hazardous debris. Cleanup operations are under way.

“We are aware of the parents’ concerns, and we are dealing with them in collaboration with (the) Public Works (department),” departmental spokesperson Paddy Attwell said. The department has identified 113 schools in the province in need of repair or that must be rebuilt, including Sunnyside Primary, he added.

“The department also identified 499 schools in 2014 that need upgrading. We are currently implementing a programme to do so in stages over several years.

“The education department plans to complete 13 new schools and 20 replacement schools during the period 2017 to 2019,” Attwell said.

“Planning for the Sunnyside replacement school is scheduled for 2019.”

Sunnyside Primary’s electricity will be fixed by today and the department will fasttrack the installation of mobile classrooms.

Circuit manager Junaid Daries said that there are plans for the school to be upgraded in 2022. Hazendal Primary, after just two years of refurbishments, reopened in 2016.

“The education department takes various factors into account when planning its building and maintenance programme. These include the condition of the school,” Attwell said.

“Hazendal was probably in a worse condition when the department compiled the building and maintenance schedule.”

According to the department, 164 schools have reported damages to buildings due last week’s storms.

PICTURE: PHANDO JIKELO FRUSTRATED: Worried parents of pupils at Sunnyside Primary in Athlone seek clarity from the Western Cape Education Department on necessary repairs and upgrades to the school’s building.