DURBAN - THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education said the floods had been disastrous for schools in the province.
According to an a update yesterday by the department’s spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, 630 schools had been affected including 124 which were severely damaged.
He said: “101 are inaccessible due to weather conditions which then makes it difficult to conduct a proper assessment on the degree of damage.”
Mahlambi emphasised that it was not only schools in the rural parts of the province that were affected, but those in urban areas as well.
He added that an estimated R442 million was needed to fix the damage and that these funds will be sourced from disaster relief funds.
He noted that the department was aware that the acquisition of such funds involved a lengthy process, therefore they were looking at using their own “reprioritisation” funds.
Some schools would open today while those affected would remain closed. “We are toying with various ideas. One of them is to take those students who are unable to attend this week and make them attend at other local schools, in order for them to continue schooling. This would be done in consultation with teachers…”
They were also looking at a rotational schedule similar to the one used during the Covid-19 pandemic but he said that the problem with this was that some areas were still inaccessible.
Mahlambi called on people to exercise caution.
“Some communities have also lent a hand in cleaning the schools. We do, however, urge members of the community to be very vigilant and not allow children and teachers into areas that are dangerous to accommodate them.”
The department said Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga would visit the province today, and would assess the extent of the flood damage and meet provincial education department officials.
The department further stated that it had been reported that the deaths of 57 pupils had been confirmed, while five were still missing, and that recovery processes are under way.
One teacher and one food handler had also been reported to have died.
According to Nomarashiya Caluza, provincial secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union, a lot of work needed to be done.
“The department, members of the community and ourselves have a major role to play in the restoration of our schools.”
She called on the department to allow students without school uniforms and stationery to attend classes, as the loss of these items was due to a natural disaster.
Thirona Moodley, KZN chief executive officer of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA, said accessibility to schools remained a huge challenge as roads and bridges had washed away.
The department has started a helpline aimed at it receiving and sharing information with the community regarding the floods. Community members are urged to dial 033 846 5477 or 033 846 5481, which will allow the department to intervene accordingly.