Pupil falls through floor

MORE than 50 parents and school governing body (SGB) members from a King William’s Town primary school marched to the department of education’s offices in Bhisho yesterday demanding it urgently fix their school.

This comes after floor boards in a classroom collapsed, injuring 13year-old pupil, Olwethu Rantyi.

Schornville Primary School, which has 1 300 pupils from grades R to 7, was built in the 1970s using prefabricated classroom units and parents claim it has only been renovated once, in 2012.

A visit by the Daily Dispatch revealed almost all of the classes have broken ceilings, broken windows and loose flooring. All of the school’s toilets are blocked and flooding as a result.

SGB member Leon Weimers said on rainy days pupils had to cover up with cardboard to shield themselves from the rain which swept through broken ceilings.

Last Thursday Grade 6 pupil Rantyi was injured when the floor in his classroom collapsed, leaving a huge hole.

His mother Mandisa Rantyi said her son had twisted his ankle and had been unable to walk for two days.

Rantyi said she was concerned about the appalling conditions of the school, and believed sending children to the school was a risk.

She said she was upset that she had to be called to pick up her child and take him to hospital.

“We bring our children to school every day, leaving them thinking they are safe under the care of the teachers and principal.

“It is saddening to know that they are actually not safe.

“The school is damaged and something needs to be done as soon as possible.”

SGB member Themba Msimanga said fellow members and pupils went to the department last Friday to report the matter, but did not get feedback from the department.

The SGB, together with parents, decided to stage a sit-in at the department yesterday morning.

He said officials from the department claimed nothing had been reported to them on the conditions at the school.

After yesterday’s sit-in Msimanga said an official had agreed to submit a report requesting an additional two mobile classrooms, and that the toilets be attended to.

However, the department also informed them that the school would only be assessed in November, and it was unlikely they would be helped before next year.

Currently 56 Grade 6 pupils are without a classroom and have had to be divided and placed in other classrooms, which has led to overcrowding in classes.

The education department’s spokesperson, Loyiso Pulumani, said the department was aware of the matter and he believed assessors had already been sent to the school.

He said the school formed part of the department’s renovation plans and was on their priority list.

“It is very unfortunate that a pupil was injured because of the conditions of the school,” he said.