This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.
The problems of a small Port Elizabeth farm school will soon be elevated to a national level.
The Lovemore Park Primary School, which serves farm workers children, is short of two teachers, has poor ablution facilities, no safe drinking water and no feeding scheme.
A year after Education Department officials visited the school, nothing has been done to rectify the problems at the school.
Democratic Alliance federal chairperson, Dr Wilmot James, says he will lay a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, while MP, Annette Lovemore, will take the matter up in parliament.
James says the problems at Lovemore Park Primary Schools is a microcosm of problems in Eastern Cape education.
"We will be writing to the Human Rights Commission for their violation of the rights of the chidren here (Lovemore Park) and also across the provinces and in the country as a whole," he said.
"It's clear that this school is not the exception. Across the Eastern Cape schools continue to lack the necessary funding, maintainance and teachers to ensure that our children receive a quality education," said Dr James.
He says there "are still an estimated 565 "inappropriate structures" in the Eastern Cape, including 395 mud schools, 13 wood schools, 22 metal schools and 135 prefabricated schools.
"The scholar transport remains erratic due to non-payment of service providers; the Department's has a 60% vacancy in the administrative arm of the Department, not allowing it to properly assist schools and the Department experiences critical skills shortages at district level," Dr James said.
"At the heart of the problem is the poor leadership demonstrated by the ANC in the province. Pervasive corruption and maladministration - which eventually forced the National Department to intervene - has meant that the children of this province are on their own."
.jpg)
.jpg)
