A Diep River high school has started a gradual “takeover” of a former primary school in their area.
|||A Diep River high school has started a gradual “takeover” of a former primary school in their area and blames government departments of having “dilly-dallied” with their applications to use the building.
Staff and pupils from South Peninsula High marched to the old Central Primary School on Wednesday and “occupied the building”.
Principal Brian Isaacs, said Central Primary opened in the 1950s and closed under the Group Areas Act, then was used by the army for years.
“In 2005 we started to apply to use it. We have applied to the national and provincial departments of public works and national education ministers. They have dillied and dallied for seven years.”
They were told the buildings were going to be used as a rehabilitation centre, and, at some point, as a security company.
Isaacs said half of his school consisted of prefabricated buildings. Some classes had to be held in the hall.
“We felt now is the time to say to the department you cannot allow education buildings to stand vacant for seven years while there are schools crying out for facilities,” he said.
The classrooms at the old school would be cleaned, and, once in a suitable state, pupils would be sent there.
The national Department of Public Works is expected to comment on Wednesday.
Bronagh Casey, spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant, said the provincial education ministry condemned the fact that pupils were encouraged to take part in a march during school hours.
Cape Argus