THE WESTERN Cape education department officials have been told their decision to consider closing Robben Island Primary School was "insensitive" to the country's heritage.
In a heated meeting on Wednesday night at the Waterfront Auditorium, NGO's, communities, pupils and parents argued against closing the school.
The group showed their displeasure after the education department's circuit manager, Vanessa Minaar, informed them they were considering closing the 90-year--old school on December 31.
Tabling the reasons for the closure, Minaar said the school had only 19 pupils, with only two residing at the Island. It only had two teachers who could multi-task and non-attendance was high during rough seas as it was impossible for boats to ferry pupils from the mainland during such conditions.
Khoisan and Bushman National Assembly spokesperson, Zenzile Khoisan, lambasted the officials, saying they disregarded the fact the school formed part of a broader heritage of the Island.
"That school is directly intertwined with the past. Your decision is a testimony that its value is taken for granted. The Island is now used for monetary gain as it is a tourist destination. We should own it, not the tourists with dollars and pounds," he said to applause. He said they would take their argument to the national heritage authorities. Inqolobane Institute for African Heritage general secretary, Madoda Mditshwa, told the meeting they were against any closure as the school could pave the way for the formulation of a specialised curriculum.
"Heritage is a soul of a nation. So, the government has a duty to protect its own.
"This gathering should be about finding solutions to the challenges facing the school not your deliberation to close it," he said.
Mditshwa said they knew that preserving the heritage was costly and urged the private sector and the department of arts and culture and education to work together in financing the soon-to-be "defunct" school.
The Robben Island heritage educator Nomzamo Khati said the WCED was taking away learning opportunities from black children as two other schools in Langa were facing a similar fate. "If you close this school, where must these children learn? Why are you closing only black schools?"
The school governing body chairperson Grant Shezi said the WCED's decision showed the department's insensitivity towards South Africa's heritage.
"The school has great potential to produce scholars with deep knowledge of contemporary history. Children there are taught from an early age to preserve the environment."
A former pupil, Ayanda Ndika, 18, said the learning experience at the school had been an awesome one.
"Because of this school I know my history and heritage. That is a rare phenomenon to my peers from other schools. If there was a high school at the Island I would still be doing my Grade 11 there," he said.
Grade 6 pupil Bongani Mbulawa, 14, from Langa, said they felt betrayed and saddened as the school was a safe environment for learning.
"There are lots of bad influences in the townships, not to mention gangsterism in schools. Here we just learn and go home."
One of the teachers at the school, Fadzai Ruzive, has echoed Shezi's sentiments.
She said although she had been teaching there for a year, she found there was a great deal of potential at the institution.
"The department should produce evidence that these schools produced poor results," Shezi said.
Minaar promised to consult with the education ministry before any final decision was made to close the school.
'Don't close our school'
THE WESTERN Cape education department officials have been told their decision to consider closing Robben Island Primary School was "insensitive" to the country's heritage.
In a heated meeting on Wednesday night at the Waterfront Auditorium, NGO's, communities, pupils and parents argued against closing the school.
The group showed their displeasure after the education department's circuit manager, Vanessa Minaar, informed them they were considering closing the 90-year--old school on December 31.
Tabling the reasons for the closure, Minaar said the school had only 19 pupils, with only two residing at the Island. It only had two teachers who could multi-task and non-attendance was high during rough seas as it was impossible for boats to ferry pupils from the mainland during such conditions.
Khoisan and Bushman National Assembly spokesperson, Zenzile Khoisan, lambasted the officials, saying they disregarded the fact the school formed part of a broader heritage of the Island.
"That school is directly intertwined with the past. Your decision is a testimony that its value is taken for granted. The Island is now used for monetary gain as it is a tourist destination. We should own it, not the tourists with dollars and pounds," he said to applause. He said they would take their argument to the national heritage authorities. Inqolobane Institute for African Heritage general secretary, Madoda Mditshwa, told the meeting they were against any closure as the school could pave the way for the formulation of a specialised curriculum.
"Heritage is a soul of a nation. So, the government has a duty to protect its own.
"This gathering should be about finding solutions to the challenges facing the school not your deliberation to close it," he said.
Mditshwa said they knew that preserving the heritage was costly and urged the private sector and the department of arts and culture and education to work together in financing the soon-to-be "defunct" school.
The Robben Island heritage educator Nomzamo Khati said the WCED was taking away learning opportunities from black children as two other schools in Langa were facing a similar fate. "If you close this school, where must these children learn? Why are you closing only black schools?"
The school governing body chairperson Grant Shezi said the WCED's decision showed the department's insensitivity towards South Africa's heritage.
"The school has great potential to produce scholars with deep knowledge of contemporary history. Children there are taught from an early age to preserve the environment."
A former pupil, Ayanda Ndika, 18, said the learning experience at the school had been an awesome one.
"Because of this school I know my history and heritage. That is a rare phenomenon to my peers from other schools. If there was a high school at the Island I would still be doing my Grade 11 there," he said.
Grade 6 pupil Bongani Mbulawa, 14, from Langa, said they felt betrayed and saddened as the school was a safe environment for learning.
"There are lots of bad influences in the townships, not to mention gangsterism in schools. Here we just learn and go home."
One of the teachers at the school, Fadzai Ruzive, has echoed Shezi's sentiments.
She said although she had been teaching there for a year, she found there was a great deal of potential at the institution.
"The department should produce evidence that these schools produced poor results," Shezi said.
Minaar promised to consult with the education ministry before any final decision was made to close the school.
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