THE community of Taulome village in Bolobedu have accused the Limpopo department of education of failing to build a secondary school for their children.

The department had also failed to provide transport to take them to other schools.

The Limpopo village has about 700 households with a population estimated at more than 3000 residents.

The villagers say their children are targeted by criminals when they walk through thick bush to nearby schools in the Mamanyoga and Mahekgwe areas.

Eric Ndlovu, a community leader who is also a member of the local tribal council, said pupils were being robbed of their cellphones and cash by criminals.

He said schoolgirls had been raped while walking a distance of about 10km to a nearby high school.

"We have tried several times to engage the provincial department of education so that our village be provided with a high school, but it seems our pleas have fallen on deaf ears," Ndlovu said.

He warned that the community might decide to prevent politicians to canvas in the area during elections.

Ndlovu said children from other villages located next to schools had been provided with scholar transport by the local government but that Taulome had been overlooked.

He said some of the children ended up dropping out of school after completing only Grade 7 because they were afraid to walk long distances to reach the nearest secondary school.

Provincial education department spokesperson Pat Kgomo could not be reached for comment yesterday.