SADTU NORTH WEST CONDEMNS THE BURNING OF A TOSCA PRIMARY SCHOOL – MEDIA STATEMENT
22 April 2024
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in the North West is disturbed by news that seven (7) classrooms of Tosca Primary School were burned in Tosca village under Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality. This tragic incident happened on Friday, 19 April 2024.
Burning a school is an appalling and goes against the very foundation of education and community. It not only deprives students of their right to learn but also undermines the fabric of society. Such actions must be unequivocally condemned.
The destruction of property is never justified. It only causes harm to individuals and communities but also undermines the principles of respect, empathy, and responsibility that are essential for a thriving society. We must strive to address grievances and conflicts through peaceful and constructive means rather resorting to destructive actions.
We are noting and appreciating the commitment by the provincial department of basic education to provide a temporary solution in the form of mobile classroom to allow teaching and learning to take place. However, our view as a union is that such should indeed be temporary because the use of mobile classrooms in the province is now a common feature and permanent in some instances. Generally, the issue of infrastructure should get a serious attention across the province.
The Union continues to urge stakeholders to support SADTU’s “I AM A SCHOOL FAN” campaign which seeks to bring communities closer to schools and denounce any form of violence that deprives learners right to education.
We call on the law enforcement agencies to investigate the motive behind this, hunt down the perpetrators and for firm action should be taken against them.
Issued by SADTU NW Secretariat: