BARBERTON – Grade eight learners of eMjindini Secondary School are no longer facing a nightmare. This comes after Barberton Mine fulfilled its promise to demolish the old and dilapidated classrooms and donated temporary ones.
Earlier in February when Mpumalanga News visited the school, it was shocked at the state they were in. It was such a disgrace that learners were forced to share chairs and broken desks. Some decided to bring old crates to sit on and used them to balance their chairs.
One of the pupils said, “On the first day schools reopened, I thought they were joking when they sent us to this block, but as time went on, I realised that it was true. I can’t stand this mess, I’d rather stay home or play outside kune kutsi ngifundzele kulendzawo lefana nelihhoko letinkukhu.”
Speaking to this newspaper, the communications officer of the mine, Mr Edmond Chirwa said education was a good investment, “We built new temporary classrooms which are fully furnished and the old block has been demolished. We want to build 16 new classrooms and aim to start within the next four weeks.
The state of the old classrooms made it very difficult to renovate them. We want to start afresh and on top of that, we have donated laboratory equipment.
”Parents were also concerned as the chairperson of the school governing body, Ms Sarah Mabuza, previously indicated that the classrooms were very old because they had been built in the ‘60s. They were praying that the structure would not collapse before they received assistance. Mabuza
said, “As parents, we really appreciate what the mine has done for us and our children.
We are no longer in a state of crisis because next week the construction of the new classrooms will commence. Once again, thank you very much.
”This paper also learnt that in a statement issued by the Department of Education when a media enquiry was forwarded, it was stated that in addition the department had set aside R9,8 million for upgrades and additions to the school, comprising seven classrooms, 10 toilets and a school hall.
