More than 800 learners from Thaba Chweu are left stranded after the Mpumalanga Department of Education failed to open a newly constructed boarding school which the department said would be opening its doors this year.
Last year, the department closed eight non-viable schools in the area promising the learners and their parents that the Thaba Chweu Boarding school will be operational as schools re-open for 2020. But to the learners’ and community’s surprise, the boarding school is not close to completion as promised by the department.
Water to the boarding school has only been connected a few days ago, the electricity connection is faulty as copper cables have already been stolen and the sewer system is not connected.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has tried to contact Mpumalanga Education MEC, Bonakele Majuba, to find out what the department’s contingency plan is as we have been inundated with complaints from parents and the community; however, the MEC has not been forthcoming and has failed to respond to the DA, parents and the community.
The DA believes that the department should have waited and not closed the non-viable schools until the boarding school was 100% completed.
The Auditor General (AG) mentioned in his Provincial Audit Outcome report for 2018/2019 that the planned target completion date for the boarding school was May 2019, but found that:
- There was inadequate planning as there was no site plan available to measure the quantities, and this resulted in extensive re-measurement changes which could increase the contract price;
- The department did not ensure that the water license application process was undertaken. It will therefore not be possible for the school to operate without sanitation services and will remain unutilized until the sanitation service is functional; and
- Suppliers were not paid within 30 days.
The DA has written to Premier Refilwe Mtsweni, to urgently give answers to learners and parents of the Thaba Chweu Boarding school. If they fail to respond speedily, the DA will approach the Human Rights Commission as these learners’ basic right to education is being infringed.
These learners are now bearing the brunt of the mess created by the Mpumalanga Department of Education and the ANC-led Mpumalanga government.