Dilapidated school: Parents lock gates for the 2nd time
The parents of pupils who attend Hlalelani Primary School decided to shut down the school after the Department of Education failed to keep its promise.
LIMPOPO – Earlier this year the department had promised that the dilapidated rural school will receive brand new classrooms by the end of July but nothing has been done since to uphold the promise.
The Secretary of the School Governing Body (SGB), Tshilidzi Mulaudzi, said commented.
“The parents have decided to close the school gates after the department failed to build or provide new classrooms like they had promised. We have written several letters to the department but they have not replied to any of them or made any effort to try and contact us. In May one of the learners broke her leg after she fell through one of the holes inside a classroom. The conditions at the school are not suitable for learning and the department seems unperturbed about the health and safety of our children.”
Hlalelani Primary School is situated in the Watervaal area near Elim Hospital and this is the second time this year angry parents have shut down the school.
The parents fear for the health and safety of their children.
“This is the only language which our government seems to understand, hence we decided to shut down the school. We want them to build new classrooms for our children. It is not fair for our kids to attend their education in this dump they call a school,” said Millicent Ramasimu, a parent of one of the learners.
“We asked for new classrooms but instead of building new classrooms they are building toilets.
“Are our children supposed to attend their classes inside the toilets?” an upset Ramasimu asked.
Johana Mudau, whose granddaughter was one of the learners who were injured when the ceiling collapsed in one of the classrooms, said she plans to move her granddaughter to another school as the conditions at Hlalelani is only getting worse.
“The conditions at Hlalelani are not suitable for learning, especially to young kids as almost all the classes have holes inside and the roof can collapse at any time as was evident when my granddaughter was injured,” she said.
CV approached the Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Dr Naledzani Rasila for comment.
“Hlalelani Primary School will get new classrooms before the end of year. It is one of many schools currently on the list of renovations by the department. Parents must not close the school and chase away the learners, they must approach the department as working together we can find solutions to all their problems and concerns”.
Read more:
