Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi
Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi
A pupil organisation in Khutsong, on the West Rand, has welcomed the catch-up camp proposed by North West's Department of Education.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, president of the "Representative Council of Learners", Sibusiso Kula, said pupils would benefit from the initiative to help them prepare for the final examinations.
Pupils from the turbulent township have lost four months of schooling because of class disruptions.
"Khutsong is not conducive to learning," said Kula. "The camp will definitely revitalise us."
He said when they went to a camp in Klerksdorp in June, most pupils came back prepared to go back to classes.
"Pupils want to learn, but they fear being attacked," he said.
Kula was himself attacked last week for spearheading a back-to-school campaign.
He said he had been hiding in his room since the incident.
"I only go out when I believe it's safe to do so.
"But I take the incident as a blessing in disguise because it gives me more time to study," he said.
Kula blamed parents for not condemning the "state of anarchy" prevailing at schools.
"You don't hear them publicly denouncing class disruptions," he said.
Meanwhile, education spokesman Charles Raseala would not say when the camp would start.
"I'm waiting for a preliminary report from a task team that is organising the camp. But the camp should start as soon as possible," he said.
Raseala said the department would use its subject specialists as they were less busy at this time of the year.
"We will identify problem areas so we can help the students directly," he said.
Catch-up hailed
Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi
Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi
A pupil organisation in Khutsong, on the West Rand, has welcomed the catch-up camp proposed by North West's Department of Education.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, president of the "Representative Council of Learners", Sibusiso Kula, said pupils would benefit from the initiative to help them prepare for the final examinations.
Pupils from the turbulent township have lost four months of schooling because of class disruptions.
"Khutsong is not conducive to learning," said Kula. "The camp will definitely revitalise us."
He said when they went to a camp in Klerksdorp in June, most pupils came back prepared to go back to classes.
"Pupils want to learn, but they fear being attacked," he said.
Kula was himself attacked last week for spearheading a back-to-school campaign.
He said he had been hiding in his room since the incident.
"I only go out when I believe it's safe to do so.
"But I take the incident as a blessing in disguise because it gives me more time to study," he said.
Kula blamed parents for not condemning the "state of anarchy" prevailing at schools.
"You don't hear them publicly denouncing class disruptions," he said.
Meanwhile, education spokesman Charles Raseala would not say when the camp would start.
"I'm waiting for a preliminary report from a task team that is organising the camp. But the camp should start as soon as possible," he said.
Raseala said the department would use its subject specialists as they were less busy at this time of the year.
"We will identify problem areas so we can help the students directly," he said.