Pietermaritzburg – The pupils from 12 KZN schools are due to appear in court over the ensuing school transport debacle.
These pupils are said to walk great distances just to be able to attend school on a daily basis.
The pupils weather different weather conditions as well as the potential of falling victim of crime in province.
The lawyers of the said pupils argue that the KZN governement should henceforth fund and provide adequate transport for the pupils.
Luyolo Mazwembe, Head of National Organising says EE is fully working on this issue. The plight of the pupils is what led to the #LongWalkToSchool campaign.
“The lack of transport is a serious barrier to accessing education. They arrive late and are unable to focus,” Mazwembe said.
“The lack of transport is a serious barrier to accessing education. They arrive late and are unable to focus,” Mazwembe said.
“It is simply not enough for these departments to assert there is no money….as with the supply of textbooks and school furniture, being able to get to school and attend classes is the core component of the right to basic education,” they argue.
“It is common cause that there is a dire and urgent need for this. The respondents’ affidavits are replete with examples of the vast distances, the harm, dangers and problems experienced…. these common cause facts support our stance.”
They cited examples of students being raped, drowning, walking through forests, being struck by lightning, assaulted and murdered.
“It ought to be a simple exercise for each school at the start of the academic year to determine the need including the learner’s age and health, the distance walked, the terrain, the risks and the family’s financial ability.
“And yet there is an absence of any proper data and there does not appear to be any realistic and concerted co-operation between the departments responsible for education, transport and finance.”
This is a developing story.
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