Parents and pupils took to the streets on Wednesday morning protesting against overcrowding at the Bloekombos High School in Kraaifontein.
Learners were photographed sitting outside classrooms at desks, with about 80 to 90 kids per classroom.
The school has the capacity for 1200, but currently 2116 children attend the school.
The pupils walked out of school before 10am saying they will not return until demands are met.
Grade 12 learner and president of the student council, Dumisani Ndlyolo, 20, says they have “really big problems”.
“No one listens to us. Classes have 70 to 85 children in one room because of the overcrowding,” Dumisani says.
“We write exams outside because even the hall can’t take us. What happens if it rains? We are still waiting on textbooks since January. Some of the learners are selling drugs on the school premises.”
GATVOL: Protest at the school
However, Jessica Shelver, the spokesperson for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, says the fault lies with the principal.
“Since the middle of 2018, the district instructed the principal not to admit more learners.
“The school was already full to capacity (and) a new school opened in January 2019 in Bloekombos, not far away.
“Both the SGB and the principal have blatantly ignored this instruction...they have admitted far more learners for 2019 than they can manage and they have not referred new learners to the new high school that has opened its doors and is currently underutilised.
‘A PROBLEM’: Dumisani Ndlyolo
“They are now demanding a new school. The WCED will not be building yet another school in the area when a nearby school can accommodate the learners.
“If they continue to shut down the school we will be forced to consider our legal options and disciplinary action against those involved,” Shelver says.