School conditions in Bronkhorstspruit an educational challenge

Despite many challenges and the lack of resources unconducive to learning, some schools in Bronkhorstspruit make the best of what they have in a dire situation.

This is evident from last year’s 100% matric pass rate achieved by Mahlenga Secondary School, even though they lack valuable teaching facilities such as science labs and libraries.

Mkhambi Primary School, Mahlenga Secondary School and Zithobeni Secondary School face similar issues, including sub-par classrooms (mostly temporary structures), no stable communication signal, a lack of security and visible policing, drugs and theft, to name but a few issues that were pointed out by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on January 31.

Lucia Xolo, the principal of Mkhambi Primary School for the last 21 years, said the challenges include the summer rain, which floods classrooms and makes them inaccessible.

Food resources are also low, and sponsors are needed to substitute what the government gave them. This is often the only meal a child receives for the day.

There are also many child-headed households. This leaves the children overwhelmed and in need of mental and physical support.

The lack of teachers is also high on the list of needs. Another urgent requirement, something most take for granted, is a cellphone signal.

Without it, there can be no computer systems and it is a security and health risk because emergency services are unreachable.

But even with the challenges at hand, Xolo, who initially wanted to study nursing, makes a difference in the lives of these learners with her passion, love and dedication to their education.

Most of her learners finish their higher education at Mahlenga Secondary School, which achieved a 100% pass rate last year, showing that ground-phase education is the key to success.

The principal of Mahlenga Secondary School, Joyce Mahamba, agreed with Xolo on most issues.

Their challenges include not having a science lab to do experiments, even though the school’s curriculum is only commerce and science-based.

This forces the teachers and learners to do experiments in the classrooms, posing a safety threat for all. There is no library or hall, and, again, cellphone signals pose a security and health risk.

There is no satellite police station in or close to any of these schools, so should there be an emergency, it would take 20 or 30 minutes for assistance to arrive.

Food parcels are also needed here, but they plan to plant vegetables soon.

“Despite all of this, the 2022 matric class had a 100% pass rate,” bragged Mahamba, who has been the principal for the last three years.

Mahamba boasts a Bachelor of Science degree, but after working with Grade R learners as an assistant teacher, she fell in love with teaching and changed her career.

Zithobeni Secondary School mirrors many of the mentioned stumbling blocks.

The mobile classrooms are in a state and need repairs, said principal Meta Mmako, who has been in the position for the last 11 years and still runs the school from a Wendy house.

They have been, like the other schools, promised brick-and-mortar buildings since 2012, for which space has been allocated.

But almost a decade later, learners and teachers still endure the harsh weather in mobile classrooms.

A concern for Mmako is that food vendors can not get permits to be on the school premises. This means that they lure learners to the fences where they sell not only food but drugs as well.

“Instead of disciplinary hearings for the learners who fall into the drug trap, the school takes corrective measures to help them,” said Mmako. But assistance from parents is also needed.

Break-ins and vandalism like cable theft, which happens at least one a week, were a big concern, but since the community stepped up, there have been no incidents since November.

These women who champion their learners with few resources are an inspiration to many. Some of the issues reported by the DA were noted by the MEC for Education.

The women hope these issues are addressed and that the conditions improve for the learners and teachers.