The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on Limpopo Education MEC Polly Boshielo to intervene and urgently address the deplorable conditions that learners at Puledi Primary School in Botlokwa found when schools opened on Monday.
Learners were released to go back home early from school this whole week because the school was not prepared to receive its learners.
The school was forced to release the children early because the food to prepare meals for learners under the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) had still not been delivered by wednesday. This meant there was no food to prepare meals for learners, some of whom depend on these meals.
The toilets at the school are dilapidated and unsafe for learners to use. The Limpopo Department of Education has failed to provide appropriate sanitation or mobile toilets. The lack of toilets at the school was another reason that learners were allowed to leave early. View photos here and here
It is unacceptable that some learners may have to learn while having an empty stomach and are deprived of the one nutritious meal that is meant to assist in improving their ability to learn. The lack of functional toilets at the school is also an avoidable impediment to their education.
MEC Boshielo must intervene by ensuring the school is provided with its NSNP food and mobile toilets to ensure safe and appropriate sanitation as a matter of urgency.
The DA believes the Department has a responsibility to ensure that learners are afforded appropriate sanitation and food under the NSNP. The DA will continue to hold the department accountable and is committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of all learners.