Turmoil as roof collapses on learners in class
Mark Shope Secondary School learners in Nwamitwa outside Tzaneen were furious when they returned for the school year only to find that the school was still in shambles following a vicious storm last year
LIMPOPO – This in spite of promises by the Department of Education, according to the school’s Learner Representative Council President, Watch Malubana, that by the time learners returned to school this year, their school would be “a little paradise”.
The roofs of over 12 classrooms were blown loose by a violent storm during the examinations last year. As an interim measure, learners had to complete their examinations in the offices of the tribal authority.
“At the time, the department promised to renovate the school soon after the examination period was over. But four months later, nothing has come of their promises,” Malubana said.
To express their fury and disappointment, the learners went on the rampage last Thursday, blockading the road and setting fires.
Malubana said the problem was made worse when a corrugated iron sheet fell from the ceiling and landed on three learners during a lesson on Monday.
“Attending class in these classrooms is endangering our lives. It is ironic that the department always gets the fattest slice of the budget annually. How dare they fail us?”
Following a meeting between school management, parents and learner representatives, an urgent request went out to local business people to intervene and assist the department to repair the school buildings.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Department of Education in Mopani and Tzaneen suggested the department could provide mobile classrooms.
Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Naledzani Rasila said the department had set aside money to the tune of R67 million to repair storm-damaged schools.
He said the money would renovate and give the affected school a face-lift.
Rasila said the department would send regional education leaders to the school to seek a resolution on the matter so that the culture of learning and teaching can go back to its national agenda.
