Vandalism at school upsets pupils

Sandiso Phaliso

THIEVES caused major damage to Arcadia High School in Bonteheuwel at the weekend, ransacking the computer lab, damaging desks and removing roofs.

Teachers and pupils arrived to a flooded school yesterday.

A pupil at the school, Kaylene Prins, posted on her Facebook page: “What a way to start our school week. School has been totally vandalised, all class roofs damaged hence all classes are flooded, sigh, and I suppose no one knows nothing. Now we need to be dismissed and can we afford it? No! These people are so bloody selfish!”

Prins said it was not the first time the school had been vandalised.

Jessica Shelver, spokes- person for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said some classrooms were unusable.

“At the end of the day, vandalism represents theft from our learners. A school is a community asset. Everyone should help protect schools as it is fundamental to the future of our children.”

Shelver said the department was still awaiting a full report from the school on the incident.

“Our Safe Schools Directorate will work with the school in this regard,” she said, adding “the school was not closed today as a result of the incident, although (it) did impact on some of the lessons”.

“The co-operation of the community is essential in order to combat vandalism and to create a safe school environment that promotes teaching and learning.

“We urge community members to be extra-vigilant throughout the year and to immediately report any suspicious behaviour or activities that occur within the vicinity of their schools to report this immediately,” said Shelver.

The provincial Education Department spends about R10 million a year on emergency repairs as a result of damage from major incidents of vandalism, she said, and school vandalism not only comes at a cost to the Education Department but to that of the learners and the community too.

“For instance, R10 million could employ an additional 33 educators in our schools a year, ensure that an additional 9 000 learners attend no-fee schools, or provide over 60 000 additional textbooks. R10 million could feed almost 4 million learners every day,” she said.

While the Education Department officials can try to safeguard schools with additional security measures, “we cannot win the fight against school burglary and vandalism without community support”.

Police spokesperson Andre Traut said a case of house- breaking has been opened.

sandiso.phaliso@inl.co.za