SADTU FREE STATE CONCERNED ABOUT CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS DUE TO INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union in Free State in deeply concerned, but not surprised, by the suspension of classes at Matla Primary School in Bloemfontein due to poor infrastructure that pose a health risk to learners, teachers, and support staff.
The school was declared unsafe by the Labour Inspectors after discovering that the school kitchen, learners’ toilets, and some classrooms were not complying with occupational and health requirements.
The Union has also learned of the shut-down of St Benedict Primary School in Ladybrand on the 06th of March 2026 due to infrastructure challenges. The situation has a potential to spread to many schools across the province that face similar infrastructure challenges, some of which were already closed at the beginning year.
It must be noted that, as SADTU, we have on numerous occasions raised the issue of infrastructure in many schools during meetings with the senior officials of the Department of Education, as these conditions pose health risks to learners, teachers, and support staff.
The problem of infrastructure extends to offices at the level of districts. In the bargaining Council (PELRC) infrastructure has been a standing item where the Department of Education reports on the provisioning of school infrastructure. Unfortunately, these reports demonstrate little progress in addressing infrastructure challenges in schools and offices.
It is unfortunate that the department of Education only acts after the Department of Labour has taken stringent measures such as closing a school. We believe that with the increased visibility of Labour Inspectors in schools and offices, more institutions are going to be declared unsafe.
We call on the MEC and HOD for Education in the province to take stock of the schools with infrastructure challenges with intention to speedily address the problem as it has already affected teaching and learning in these schools. Educators will later be expected to cover up through extra classes for the time lost, even though the lost time is not of their making. This is despite the fact that the problem is known to the Department of Education but lacks proper execution.
We further note with concern the austerity measures imposed on education. However, believe that with the Budget Speech increasing funding for education, the provincial budget will also improve to enable the province to address the infrastructure challenges.
ISSUED BY PROVINCIAL SECRETARIAT