This morning, on Wednesday 26 October, learners in King William’s Town embarked on protest action at Hoërskool De Vos Malan.
While the protest action was organised independently of the formal leadership structures within Equal Education, the aggrieved learners include members of Equal Education.
As far as Equal Education is aware, the reason for this drastic action is that learners are at their wits end with the provincial education department, and the lack of accountability.
The grievances contained in a memorandum that Equal Education has had sight of include:
- Failure by government to provide water, electricity and decent sanitation to all schools, and to rebuild or fix school buildings, by 29 November this year (the deadline stipulated by the national Basic Education Department’s own Norms and Standards regulations).
- Teacher shortages which prevent learners from excelling academically.
These are of course legitimate grievances which seriously impede quality teaching and learning. However, Equal Education is appealing to learners to allow the Grade 12 exams to proceed uninterrupted.
ENDS
For further comment:
Ntuthuzo Ndzomo (Deputy General Secretary of Equal Education) 072 931 4343
Luzuko Sidimba (Eastern Cape Head of Equal Education) 071 924 0956
