Home » Schoolchildren in South Africa Write Exams in Sun Due to Classroom Shortage

Schoolchildren in South Africa Write Exams in Sun Due to Classroom Shortage

On Monday a class of Year 10 learners in the Eastern Cape sat their exams outside, in the sun, because there are not enough classrooms at their school. The photo of the schoolchildren has begun to go viral since being shared by Vytjie Mentor, the former ANC member of parliament who alleged the Guptas offered her […]

By SAPeople
19-11-16 12:51
in Education

On Monday a class of Year 10 learners in the Eastern Cape sat their exams outside, in the sun, because there are not enough classrooms at their school.

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Grade 10 learners write their exams outside in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Photo: FB/EE

The photo of the schoolchildren has begun to go viral since being shared by Vytjie Mentor, the former ANC member of parliament who alleged the Guptas offered her a ministerial job while President Jacob Zuma was in the next room.

Vytjie uploaded the pic with a caption directed at Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, saying: “R42b missing in one financial year and Matriculants in EC writing exams out in the open in Nov 2016. No classes, but Minister’s child aged 22 drives a Lamborghini.”

Several social media users thought the photo was staged, but while they are Year 10 students and not matrics (Year 12), the photo was real and took place at Xhentse Senior Secondary School in the Libode area on Monday 14 November.

Equal Education (EE) uploaded the photo and a video (see below) in which the school’s principal explains that due to a clash in exams and a shortage of classrooms, and with the nearby school unable to accommodate them, these students were forced to sit outside.

EE, which is based in Khayelitsha with offices around the country, has been visiting schools in the Eastern Cape this week ahead of the first Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure deadline on 29 November.

On this date, all schools in the country must have been provided with access to water, electricity and decent sanitation. Schools constructed of materials such as mud and asbestos must also have been fixed or rebuilt.

So far EE has found much evidence to the contrary, with photos far worse than the above on their social media pages. One school is largely made of mud with no electricity and only rainwater available.

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Photo of a school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Source: FB/EE

Yesterday EE uploaded pics of a school which has an entire block of asbestos classes, and plastic windows. One classroom was destroyed in a thunderstorm earlier this year so the young children (Grades R, 1 and 2) are taught in a church they have to walk to. The school toilets are so bad (holes in the ground) that the principal says the little Grade Rs risk falling in.

Awful to look at. Imagine being a child using this.
Awful to look at. Imagine being a child using this.

There is nothing on the premises that has been built by the government (any government) since 1931!

EE said: “Not only are community members paying for building materials themselves, they’re literally doing the building work themselves.”

EE claims Motshekga’s media briefing earlier this week was a “faux showing of public accountability”, claiming the minister is in violation of the school infrastructure law.

It is hoped with the spreading of photos and videos like these that more pressure will be put on the government to #FixOurSchools.

The story behind the photo of learners writing exams outside – Grade 10, Xhentse Senior Secondary:

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