By Lungile Ntimba
The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape will table a motion this week in the provincial legislature calling on education MEC Fundile Gade to engage with school communities, governing bodies and civil society to revise the blanket ban on all alcohol-related events on school premises, including fundraising functions.
The new policy, which was introduced by the department and came into effect on 1 March, bars the sale and consumption of alcohol on all public school premises.
It aims to combat alcohol and drug use among learners and is supported by the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB).
The DA argues that the policy was implemented without any stakeholder consultation and failed to consider the financial struggles faced by under-resourced schools in the province.
“While we support the department’s objective of protecting learners from the risks associated with underage drinking, this decision reflects a lack of nuance,” DA MPL Horatio Hendricks said in a statement on Monday.
“Rather than addressing the underlying causes of youth alcohol abuse, the department has chosen to penalise schools that are already struggling under severe financial constraints.”
According to the DA, many schools in the province often relied on fundraising events to generate funds for essential infrastructure and learning materials due to inadequate financial support from the government.
Hendricks argued that these events occurred after school hours, without the participation of learners and adhered strictly to national and provincial laws, including the South African Schools Act and relevant liquor laws.
He warned that denying schools lawful opportunities to raise funds without offering alternatives would only worsen the financial strain on the education system.
“If the department is truly committed to creating safe and supportive learning environments, then it must start by addressing the chronic underfunding of Eastern Cape schools,” Hendricks said.
“No school should be forced to rely on fundraising to meet basic operational needs. However, as long as that remains the reality, it is neither reasonable nor fair to prohibit schools from pursuing lawful means of financial support.”
He said the party was opposed to a blanket prohibition and instead supported a balanced and evidence-based approach that protected learners while supporting the sustainability of our public schools.
INSIDE EDUCATION
