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Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho MPL and the DA Joburg PR Councillor, Cllr McKinnley Mitchell, conducted an oversight inspection at Riverlea High School in Johannesburg, and were appalled to discover the terrible state of the school infrastructure. 

Eight classrooms were burnt down more than five years ago, and while the department has been aware of this for the entire time, they have failed to fix and restore them. 

The photos here _here here_ here

The school infrastructure is old and dilapidated and needs urgent attention.

Failure by the Gauteng Department of Education to prioritise fixing school infrastructure is impacting negatively on learning and teaching. 

The school matric pass rate and the learner enrolment continue to drop every year due to a lack of adequate infrastructure and proper maintenance of the school.

The school environment is dirty with litter all over, while the bathrooms have water leakages on the floor, even though there are general workers paid to keep the school clean.

The environment in which both learners and teachers are exposed to on a daily basis is not conducive for learning and teaching which greatly concerns the DA. 

Safety and security is also a challenge at the school as they have experienced several break-ins and burglaries where school valuables have been stolen. There is a lack of sufficient patrollers to safeguard the school.

The DA calls on the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi to urgently fix the school infrastructure. We also call for an intervention from the district offices to assist in ensuring that the school environment is conducive for learning and teaching and improve the school performance.

Issued by The DA