Cape Town - The Western Cape Education Department has been accused of denying basic services to pupils at a Valhalla Park school where the girls’ toilets have been out of order for several months.
The issue that parts of Beauvallon High School are without electricity was highlighted by the Save our Schools campaign this year, and during a discussion of the department’s annual report in the provincial legislature last week.
Save our Schools has been fighting against the closure of 17 schools in the province, and Beauvallon was one of the schools earmarked for closure.
Last July the Western Cape High Court ruled against former Education MEC Donald Grant’s decision to close the schools. The court later gave Grant leave to appeal against the decision. Save our Schools indicated that the matter was to be heard at the Supreme Court of Appeal next month.
Save our Schools co-ordinator Vanessa le Roux said the department had been aware of the issues at the school for several months, but its “excuse” was that the school was on a list for maintenance. She said a major concern was the safety of the girls, who had no choice but to use the boys’ toilets.
“For safety reasons a caretaker has to stand in front of the toilet (while a girl is using it). This would never happen at a school in a more affluent area.”
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, initially indicated that before last Friday’s annual report discussion, the department’s head office had been unaware that girls were sharing toilets with boys. But after it was pointed out that the issue had been highlighted before and brought to the department’s attention, she said the department was told in April that pupils were sharing toilet facilities.
“The Western Cape Education Department notified Public Works. Public Works did conduct a site visit and confirmed that the learners were sharing facilities. It appears no interventions were made. We will investigate to find out why no action was taken regarding temporary toilets for the females.”
Shelver said only some parts of the school were without electricity. The Education Department had conducted electrical repair work at the school in July. Theft and vandalism had been ongoing problems at the school, despite extra security and community advocacy to assist the department in protecting the school, she said.
A budget of R1.2 million had been approved for maintenance and repair work at the school. This was out to tender. The education department had also asked the Department of Transport and Public Works to place chemical toilets at the school with immediate effect, she said.
Cape Town