Limpopo pupils learn under sky
FOR a year now, pupils and teachers at a Limpopo school have been conducting their lessons under risky conditions since their classrooms were damaged by a severe storm.
HARD LESSON: Semaneng Secondary School pupils in Limpopo have been attending classes under a blown-off roof since October last year. On windy or rainy days the pupils are forced to return home. PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANAOur children cannot continue to learn under these conditions and be expected to pass at the end of the year
The damage happened when a storm hit Semaneng Secondary School in Semaneng village in GaMatlala, west of Polokwane, on October 11 last year. Part of the roof of one of the school's two buildings was blown away and furniture damaged.
Now pupils and teachers have to use the partly roofed building to conduct their classes. On rainy days, pupils using the affected classrooms are forced to return home.
When it is windy, teachers have to shout to make themselves heard because of the noise.
During a visit to the school yesterday, Sowetan learnt that the affected building accommodates pupils in grades 8 and 9, a library and a laboratory. The school has 169 pupils, and caters for grades 8 to 12 - with eight teachers including the principal.
Furniture and books were also damaged by rain when the storm hit. The furniture and books that escaped damage are being stored in a cramped staff room.
Pupils who spoke to Sowetan on condition of anonymity said the situation was affecting them in their studies.
"We find it difficult to learn under these conditions. We are also at risk of being injured by the unstable roof.
"The department must come on board and assist us," said a grade 8 pupil.
She also confirmed that they were forced to return home on rainy and windy days.
The provincial department of education was made aware of the situation at the school but has not done anything to assist, the pupils said.
The school is situated just a stone's throw away from the parental home of provincial education spokesman Pat Kgomo, who also confirmed knowledge of the problems faced by the school.
A member of the school governing body, Alfred Mashala, yesterday pleaded with the department to lend a hand.
"Our children cannot continue to learn under these conditions and be expected to pass at the end of the year," Mashala said.
Year-end examinations at the school are scheduled to begin next Monday.
A teacher at the school who also requested to remain anonymous said their work was being negatively affected.
"As we are preparing for examinations, accommodating the pupils will be a very serious problem at this school," he said.
Approached for comment yesterday, Kgomo said they were aware of the state of the school.
"There have been delays in the procurement of contractors to assist but the school is one of our priorities," he said.
Kgomo promised that assistance would be provided "in a few weeks' time". "In the meantime, we will assist matriculants to write in a proper environment." - frankm@sowetan.co.za
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KeRataBasadi
On-point-gate and nkandla-hills-gate are just one of many reasons we find and will continue to find ourselves in this sh1tty predicament, priorities are fncked up, "leaders have bunkers", that cost more than a limpopo school.Report Abuse
LostGuy
Fire Angie Motshekga alreday together with shower headReport Abuse
KeRataBasadi
We still have the textbook-gate to deal with by the way.Report Abuse
16-12-1838
Another anc DISGRACE..."There have been delays in the procurement of contractors to assist but the school is one of our priorities," Kgomo said.
What a load of bullsh1t! How intellectually challenged must one be to take more than 12 months to arrange for a builder to come and do, what appears to be, some fairly standard repairs. Geezus can you imagine if it wasn't a priority...10 years to fix???
So is this fool saying that there are no capable builders in the region to do this type of work? Surely not!
Never mind their immediate safety - judging by the way this anc operate, especially in Zimpopo, I am entirely confident in presuming that CORRUPTION and EXTORTION are the real reasons why these poor kids futures are being harmed.
...AND people still believe that nationalisation will bring them economic freedom? This country is a total mess!
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Giftma
talk about panoramic roofs, thought only cars came with that...jokes aside guys, this ANC government (mafia) is really failing us, lets vote Zille in and see what happens, worth a short, look at cape town, it may seem a bit racist at times but that province works
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Cl!ck-
I blame Jub-Jub and Ju-Ju..Report Abuse
Thinawise
Given all these mess that the country is experiencing under the leadership of Shower man, the nation need to decide carefully when voting next time.The ANC are spending 4.6 million on parties while the future of our country learn under the sky.Poor Zuma and his government are costing the nation.sooner or later the wont be any difference between Zim and SA.
WATCH THE SPACE
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Zabaragast
R4.67 billion on catering, entertainment and travel allowances, niks on schools. What will it take to vote these ppl out of office?Report Abuse
Thinawise
@ZabaragastR4.67 billion on catering, entertainment and travel allowances, niks on schools. What will it take to vote these ppl out of office?
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I wish I can give you an answer to that,the less said about this corrupt goevernment the better, my problem is that we have educated ministers but i dont see what they are doing,maybe its because their kids are attending overseas schools...?
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Kgaoza606
An opportunity for Juju to show love to his home province, he has made enough million, sure he can put down R100 000 and just maybe that will earn him some credibility...Report Abuse
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