Start of new era for 'tree school'
ONLY three teachers pitched up for work on the first day of schooling at Selowe Primary School in Silvermine village, Limpopo.
BACK TO SCHOOL: Selowe Primary School at Silvermine
HAND OVER: Evans Seanego with Ephraim Raseruthe.Pupils at the school used to learn under trees since January this year but found a reprieve after a private company donated five mobile classrooms for them.
The school had been operating illegally until the provincial department of education decided to operate it as an off-shoot for Kgwale Primary, a school in the neighbouring village.
The department had promised to deploy six qualified teachers to the new school, but yesterday only three had reported for work.
According to the department, the remaining teachers were still making arrangements to move from their old to the new workplace.
They are expected to start work at the new school today.
Selowe had also been provided with two mobile toilets.
Sowetan yesterday witnessed a ceremony whereby the former teachers, who were working without being paid, handed over the reins to the new teachers.
Four of the new teachers come from Kgwale, one from Seanego Primary School in another neighbouring village while the sixth teacher occupies an ad hoc post.
All six teachers will have to teach 165 pupils in eight grades.
The school caters for pupils in grades R to 7. As for the former teachers, it will be a jobless life for them as the department would have nothing to do with them.
Of the 14 former teachers, only two were in possession of teaching qualifications and the department would not entertain placing them in its system.
Department spokesman Pat Kgomo said yesterday that those with qualifications would get no special treatment.
"We did not recognise those people who assisted the pupils at that school as teachers," said Kgomo.
He said those with qualifications would have to undergo normal processes if they wanted to be employed as teachers.
Evans Seanego, the outgoing principal, said the education of the children at Silvermine village was of paramount importance.
"It is obvious that we are feeling pain but we wish the new teachers the best of luck. But the department must provide the resources in order for Selowe to operate like a normal school," Seanego said.
According to the new principal, Ephraim Raseruthe, the only books available at the school were those given as surplus to Kgwale.
He further made a passionate appeal to the department to provide resources to the school. - frankm@sowetan.co.za
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MommaC
"We did not recognise those people who assisted the pupils at that school as teachers," said KgomoSpiteful, malicious, childish brat. All because they were shown up and their egos were bruised.
Those 14 have the potential to be the cream of the SA teaching crop. They should be given the chance to get their teaching qualifications as they are more 'teachers' than most of the useless bunch you employ.
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Pointman
@MommaC - agree with your comment. Although unqualified, they were at least making a contribution. Now what about the unqualified and incompetent cadres that are stuffing up everything from health, policing to social services - he obviously has no concerns there.Report Abuse
Mellow
Kgomo you really are an @rse so the poor 12 ppl who worked their bums giving back to this suffering kids arent recognized you ungrateful lil tart its the fiuture of our kids you playing with like how on earth are 6 teachhers supposed to run a school, instead of assiting those 12 and making sure they are qualified you come and say you dont recognize them?And are you saying even the 2 qualified ones arent getting any jobs? Frikkadel!!!
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BaleliM
"We did not recognise those people who assisted the pupils at that school as teachers," said Kgomo_____________________________________________________________________
You ungrateful donkey!! These teachers were teaching under a tree for no pay so that those kids could have some form of education. The so called department of education failed these kids for half a year and finally a company donates classes and not the govt and you have the audacity to be snobbish.
These teachers must be given a chance to get qualified as they clearly show passion for teaching rather than the good for nothing teachers being employed.
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ntshware-ke-yawa
you are such an arrogant leech Mr Kgomo.It was better to say,"as the department we will engage with the MEC of Education and see if we cannot find ways of helping those unqualified teachers get proper qualifications and possibly absorb them into the system in near future",that for me would have been better.Report Abuse
BaleliM
The way education is not a priority in this country, it is like the govt wants our kids to follow in the footsteps of shower head and wood work!!Report Abuse
Mellow
@Mellow TYPO am so pissed off I cant even type yerrrrrrrrrrrrr this Pat Cow is making me naar@MommaC/BaleliM and Pointman Morning and I agree with you all, Mr Cow here is obviously eating his dung for breakfast lunch and supper thus he cant think all he do is moooo-moooooo-moo *PUN INTENDED*
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1tsotsi
We cannot by any means have kids being taught by unqualified teachers, we cant compromise the quality of kid's education at an expense of quantity..... Teaching is a skill and a calling, you can't teach if you not skilled, Its not like telling stories.Report Abuse
BaleliM
@ Mellow/MommaC- hey ladies.Am so pissed off with this article.
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life1703
There is no way that these poor teachers who sacrifced their lives cannot be compensated. Government must come in and uplift those guys hence they did excellent work without earning a single penny.These teachers must be assisted both academically and financially.Report Abuse
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