Teachers and pupils at some schools in Welkom, Free State, are forced to jump over streams of raw sewage from blocked drains before entering the schools premises.
This was revealed by parliament’s portfolio committee on basic education after conducting an oversight visit to schools in Free State this week.
Spokesperson Sakhile Mokoena said the portfolio committee on basic education has called on the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State to urgently attend to the raw sewage that is flowing into schools in the Welkom area.
Health hazard to teachers and learners
“The committee noted the disturbing situation in the first two days of its weeklong oversight visits to schools in the province and raised concern that this was a health hazard to the learners and teachers.
“The focus of the committee’s oversight visits is on school infrastructure. Also on readiness for end of the year examinations, provision of scholar transport and any related matters. All matters that affect the quality of learning and teaching, in the Lejweleputswa and Fezile Dabi districts,” said Mokoena.
Mokoena said the sewage leaks were a municipality-wide problem due to aging infrastructure. However, the committee was concerned by the health hazards at Welkom Secondary and Lenakeng Technical High School. There, teachers and learners must jump over streams of raw sewage from blocked drains and battle the stench every day.
“Sewerage at the gate and inside the school premises is unacceptable. No child must jump over sewer to enter a school. We call on the municipality to urgently address this problem,” said committee’s chairperson Joy Maimela.
Infrastructure problem across province
Mokoena said the committee also noted a common infrastructure problem in schools across the province. It asked the provincial Department of Education to identify all dilapidated schools and develop a comprehensive plan to address matter.
“The overflowing sewerage and waste water was also contributing to the damages to school buildings. During the visit to Lenakeng, the committee noted the need to nurture technical schools. This is because… they have the potential to help in addressing the country’s skills shortage,” said Mokoena.
