Department ordered to provide emergency classrooms
The governing bodies of four heavily overcrowded schools in the Eastern Cape claimed victory in the Eastern Cape High Court (Mthatha) yesterday when the court ordered the Eastern Cape Department of Education to provide 65 emergency mobile classrooms to the schools within the next three months.
The department wanted a postponement in the case, notes a Daily Maverick report.
The Legal Resources Centre, arguing on behalf of the parents, said that overcrowded classrooms in Mthatha, Mqanduli, Mount Frere and Engcobo undermined children’s constitutional rights to basic education, a healthy environment, dignity and equality.
Infrastructure norms published for SA schools state that no more than 40 learners should be allocated to a single classroom in SA – but in low-fee and non-fee schools in Mthatha, Mqanduli, Mount Frere and Engcobo in the Eastern Cape, school classrooms house more than double that amount of children.
Some classes have more than 100 children fighting for space and up to five having to share a desk made for two.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
