Urgent Call For Action At Noordgesig Secondary School After Only 25 Grade 8 Pupils Pass

The Noordgesig Secondary School in Soweto faced a devastating fire last month that destroyed five classrooms and severely impacted the administration block.

This incident has had a profound effect on the students, particularly the Grade 8 pupils, of whom only 25 passed their exams. The school governing body (SGB) and the community are now urgently demanding action from the Department of Education.

The fire, attributed to an electrical fault, caused extensive damage to the admin block and affected six other classes, including the science laboratory.

As a result, only Grade 12 pupils have returned to school after the June holidays, while other grades must attend classes on a rotational basis. This has disrupted the education of many students, leading to protests from parents and pupils alike.

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In response to the disruption, parents and students protested outside the school, demanding that the Education MEC address their concerns. They insist that the administration block and damaged classrooms be repaired promptly.

Ravern Martin, an SGB member, emphasized the need for mobile classrooms to be brought to the soccer field, rather than the school grounds, to ensure a complete rebuild of the school, which has been in existence for over 80 years.

With preliminary exams for Grade 12 only three weeks away, the situation remains dire. A pupil expressed her frustration, stating that the school is not functioning properly, with essential facilities like the copy machine being non-operational.

She urged the MEC and the community to come together to provide better facilities and support for the students. The Noordgesig Secondary School community is calling for real action, not just superficial promises, to ensure a conducive educational environment for all pupils.