Classrooms that have never been fixed after they caught fire in 2015, have come back to haunt Sokhanyo Primary School in Gugulethu, resulting in learners in differing grades having had to share classes, leading to near fisticuffs between parents and teachers.
Last week, Facebook was abuzz with images depicting the school principal and a female teacher pushing and shoving each other during the melee.
In another post, the parents could be heard arguing with the principal, although it could not be discerned what they were saying. This happened on Wednesday, the first school calender day of 2019.
In the aftermath, City Vision spoke to some parents, who expressed their dismay that children in Grade two were sharing a classroom with learners in Grade seven.
According to the parents, the two classes that caught fire in 2015 had never been fixed and had this been done, none of the present problems would have surfaced, they said.
Nomvuyo Mahlatshana, a parent, said sharing a classroom is a very bad way for their children to start the year.
“Our children are sharing classes with other grades, which is not a good way for them to start the year, because we (had) thought each grade will get its own class,” she said.
She added that the school is also in a bad shape, as some classes are windowless and with no chalkboards.
Another parent Zandi Siwa said had the two classrooms that caught fire in 2015 been fixed, the school would not be having this problem.
Bronagh Hammond, a spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department, said learning at the school was disrupted after parents had told their children to stay at home because some teachers refused to go to class after changes to their classes by the principal.
She said since then, a meeting was held, and the parents were asked to write down their concerns. A follow-up meeting will also be held between all stakeholders.