Inspect all North West school hostels - DA

A raging fire has gutted a Volkskool building in Potchefstroom.

A raging fire has gutted a Volkskool building in Potchefstroom.

Published Sep 3, 2015

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Rustenburg - A comprehensive safety inspection of all residential schools in North West must be conducted, the Democratic Alliance in North West said on Thursday.

“The safety inspection should determine whether hostel facilities adhere to safety standards and to determine whether these standards are implemented effectively,” said Tutu Faleni, the party’s spokesperson on education.

He said the DA would write to Education MEC Wendy Matsemela requesting her to conduct the inspection.

“The DA was disturbed at the news of a fire that broke out at Hoër Volkskool in Potchefstroom. School fires are a devastating risk for our young people. Fortunately, when this dormitory caught fire, the students were in the study hall and could be helped to safety before anyone got injured.”

Fire broke out at the boys hostel of Volkskool on Monday night. This was the second fire in a week following a fire that killed three girls at North West Secondary School for the Deaf in Leeudoringstad. Over 50 learners suffered from injuries and smoke inhalation.

In 2010, four boys died when their dormitory at the Christiana School for the Blind caught fire.

Faleni said the DA wanted the department of education to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all residential schools in the province to protect childrens right to safety.

The DA urges the Department of Education to consult with governing bodies and educators at each school to develop safety procedures that were customised to the needs of each school.

ANA

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