Basic Education Committee concerned about Setotolwane School
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has called for drastic measures at Setotolwane Special School for blind and deaf learners on the first day of its oversight visit to Limpopo.
Committee Chairperson Ms Nomalungelo Gina said learners need to be relocated urgently and highlighted that two years ago the school was declared unsafe for human habitation. “We cannot allow this situation to continue. These learners have rights,” she said.
Another challenge at Setotolwane School is older learners who are involved in crime. A shortage of text books and a lack of infrastructure are other problems brought to the Committee’s attention. The provincial Department of Basic Education has already committed to providing textbooks by 20 August 2015 and indicated that the relocation will take place within three months.
The Committee gave the school and the provincial department two days to come up with a report on the challenges and how to address them within the necessary time frame. Ms Gina said the Committee will monitor progress.
Before visiting the school, the Committee met with the leadership and officials of the Limpopo Department of Education and heard that although some progress has been made, challenges remain. For example, a variety of technological devices have been procured to allow learners to move with the times, but acute staff shortages contribute to the challenges.
Ms Gina applauded the provincial Department for trying to make education inclusive of learners with special needs after years of under-investment in this area by both the previous regime and the democratic government.
The Committee also visited other schools, such as Grace and Hope School for learners with special needs and Bana-Bathari school. At Grace and Hope School, the Committee was impressed with the vegetable garden and other projects, such as hat-making and fashion designing.
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