MATRIC examinations were thrown into disorder at a Mpumalanga school when its roof was blown off in a heavy storm.

The roof of Ramoshidi Technical and Commercial School was ripped off as were the roofs of several houses at Seabe village.

Though no injuries or fatalities were reported, villagers say the storm caused widespread damage in the village.

Neighbouring villages like Marapyane, Lefiso and Nokaneng were also affected.

Now matric pupils at Ramoshidi have been forced to use classrooms at the neighbouring Madiboane Primary School to write their final examinations.

Grade 10 and 11 pupils are also currently studying at Madiboane.

Ramoshidi falls under the Nokaneng circuit of education, which is in the KwaMhlanga area of Mpumalanga.

When Sowetan arrived at the school yesterday all pupils were sitting under trees. Parents and some members of the community were trying to fix the badly damaged school.

Ramoshidi is one of only two high schools in this village, accommodating 525 pupils and 21 teachers.

The pupils were due to sit for the electrical technology paper.

Over the last 10 years the school produced good Grade 12 results and this year's matric pupils are confident that despite the current state of affairs at their school their good performance will not change.

Ramoshidi principal Ngwa-ko Raditla said: "This is a disaster. The roof of our beautiful school was blown away by strong winds at the weekend.

"Four classrooms and a staffroom are without a roof."

Raditla said a report had been sent to the provincial education department and they were hopeful that help would come soon.

"We appeal to anyone out there, particularly from the private sector, to assist in whatever respect so that teaching and learning can resume without any hitches," Raditla said.