DUTYWA — Learners from Vulingcobo Junior Secondary School in Dutywa, Eastern Cape, have marched to the Department of Education offices to demand urgent intervention after heavy rains and strong winds damaged their school this week.
The extreme weather has disrupted teaching and learning in several communities across the area. Pupils are now refusing to return to classes until they are provided with a brand new school.
According to the learners, their demand for a new school dates back as far as 2016, and they say their concerns have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears. The protest was triggered by the suspension of teaching and learning following the recent storm damage.
A spokesperson for the learners, who participated in the peaceful march, struggled to contain her emotions while detailing the ordeal at the school, describing a history of unfulfilled promises. The school’s infrastructure was characterized as being in a dilapidated state.
The School Governing Body’s parent component reportedly attempted to meet with education officials, but learners continued to chant and demand action.
Compounding the infrastructure crisis, teachers have been resigning, leading to shortages for critical subjects including physical sciences, life sciences, and pure mathematics.
The Department of Education in the Eastern Cape has commented that it tried to accommodate Vulingcobo Junior Secondary School by placing it on the list for the 2026/2027 financial year. However, learners, together with some teachers and parents, remain adamant that they will not go back to the old school until they receive a new one.