Floods in April 2022 caused damage to many parts of KwaZulu-Natal and nearly a year later schools which were affected are saying that nothing has been done by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to help them repair the damage.
Reports state that Brettonwood High School which was visited by the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga shortly after the flood damage has not been fixed yet and a block of classrooms are still vacant.
The principal stated that no work has been done to repair the classrooms and the department has not helped them to fix the sports field which was also damaged during the floods.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) said that the vacancy of those classrooms has resulted in overcrowding at the school which has negatively impacted teaching and learning.
Bhekisisa High School in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu-Natal was not affected by the floods but the school has reported that they do not have toilet facilities as they stopped working five years ago.
A non-profit organisation donated two containers that the school has been using for the past five years.
The principal said that the school does not have running water as they are storing their water in JoJo tanks and this water is only used for toilet facilities and the daily running of the school.
Learners at the school are unable to access drinking water and the principal says that these issues have been reported to the department but they have received no assistance so far.
Teachers unions have raised concerns about the damaged schools in the province as well as the lack of teachers at schools.
Parents from the Umlazi township protested outside KwaMgaga High School calling for more teachers to be hired as the lack of teachers has led to a high rate of failure at the school.
The Department is yet to address the lack of teachers and the infrastructure issues at schools in the KwaZulu-Natal province.
