The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has raised serious concerns about the state of school readiness in KwaZulu-Natal, warning that more than half of the province’s schools are not prepared to reopen this week.
The warning follows a survey conducted by the union among 247 school principals, which found that 54 percent of schools lack essential resources, including funding, stationery, textbooks and basic cleaning materials.
The situation is particularly dire in the Umkhanyakude District on the province’s north coast, where nearly 70 percent of schools are reportedly not ready to begin the new academic year on Wednesday.
SADTU KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said schools in previously disadvantaged communities are the worst affected.
“The majority of our schools are no-fee schools. Learners arrive empty-handed, expecting to receive stationery, textbooks and all necessary learning materials from the school but these items are simply not available. Many schools also do not have money for electricity and water. These are basic needs, and they are not being met,” Caluza said.
The union has called on the provincial education department to urgently intervene to ensure that schools are adequately resourced before the academic year begins, warning that the current conditions will severely undermine teaching and learning.