SADTU Teachers at Work, with logo, smaller.png SADTU Free State Statement, 15 November 2015 Bus Tragedy in Warden The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) in Free State is shocked by the tragedy where the bus transporting school learners lost control, hit the other side of the road and caught fire on the 13th November 2015. Two learners of age four died on the spot and one learner is critical in hospital. The driver and the other learners were taken to hospital for treatment and were later discharged. The bus was from Harrismith and transporting farm learners between Harrismith and Warden to Fathima Edu-Care Centre at Sibonakaliso on daily basis. The bus driver had earlier in the day complained about the condition of the bus to the owner who insisted that the driver should transport learners regardless of the problem of the brakes. It is reported that the principal and educators have raised the issue with the department on numerous occasions with empty promises. Whilst we appreciate efforts by the department of education on its societal responsibility of ensuring that the circumstances of being in farms are not barriers to accessing education, there is lack of monitoring on delivery of services by the service providers and on the department itself as learners in some areas are absent for many days because the service providers had stopped transporting them crying foul that the department is not paying them for many months. We call on the department of education in Free State to investigate all learner transport issues in the province as there are similar incidents of questionable roadworthiness of vehicles transporting learners in farm schools. Some of the vehicles are repaired from time to time and delay learners from arriving on time at schools and these learners are made to wait till very late to be transported back home. Under these circumstances they are also at high risk considering increasing acts of violence and harassment against the girl child learners where they are not directly delivered at the doorstep of their homes. The department should also ensure that the transport that is provided for the learners is at all material times in good conditions as there are reported cases where learners had to stay away from school for two weeks because of the worn out bus tyres. We further call on the department of Police, Roads and Transport in executing their responsibilities to also focus on these vehicles irrespective of being owned by state or private providers as they expose the lives of the children to danger. As SADTU we pass our sincere condolences to the bereaved families and wish all other learners speedy recovery. We appeal to department of education to provide counselling during this crucial time of writing of examinations. Issued by: Provincial Secretariat Contact: Mokholoane Moloi, Provincial Secretary, 076 811 2777 Sifuba Ntombizanele, Provincial Deputy Secretary, 079 691 7358 -- -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "YCLSA Discussion Forum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
