THE situation at a Limpopo school operating under marula trees will remain unchanged until January next year.

Selowe Primary School in Silvermine village near Senwabarwana (formerly Bochum) was established in January this year.

The school has 165 pupils, 14 teachers - including the principal - and eight "classrooms".

Seven of the classes from grades 1 to 7 are conducted under trees, while a single shack erected by the community accommodates only Grade R pupils.

Of the 14 teachers, only two have relevant qualifications to teach the children.

Evan Seanego, the school's principal, is only in possession of a matric certificate.

Before taking up the position, he worked as a security guard in Gauteng.

All teachers work on a voluntary basis.

The provincial department of education is adamant the school is operating illegally and that due processes need to be followed until the school receives proper recognition.

Selowe Primary is without proper infrastructure such as buildings, desks, chairs, textbooks, toilets and water.

Teachers have to carry water in containers to share with pupils. Both pupils and teachers relieve themselves in the bushes.

Pupils' parents clean the school premises in the mornings.

Josephine Mokgotho, 40, using a hoe and carrying a baby on her back, said they were cleaning the yard for the safety of their children.

"An unclean environment would pose health risks for our children, so we decided to voluntarily clean the school yard," she said.