"It is wrong to steal food meant for the children"

AS inland schools opened for the first term yesterday, problems of a different kind threaten the future of pupils in the Free State.

Semejana Intermediate Farm School in Rooiwal, just outside Bloemfontein, is facing a problem of a special kind.

The school has not been able to offer quality learning and teaching because of the "weekly burglaries" that take place.

School principal Lebohang Ntlhare said they were unable to feed their pupils regularly because "some members of the community break into our school and steal food meant for our learners".

"We have been fighting this problem since last year. It is unacceptable that the community of Rooiwal break into our school, particularly during weekends, to steal our children's food," he said.

"We are aware that the majority of Rooiwal residents are unemployed and poverty-stricken, but it is wrong to steal food meant for the children.

"We have informed the department of education about this problem, but they have yet to respond."

Ntlhare said rural schools experienced other problems and challenges that very few urban schools had.

"We do not have libraries, computers, toilets and proper classrooms. We also have a critical shortage of teachers. This affects our learners," Ntlhare said.

"For instance, here at Semejana we have only nine teachers and almost 200 learners. We are badly understaffed and under-resourced."

But Ntlhare remained confident that the school would go on producing good results despite its problems.

Free State education department spokesman Howard Ndaba was confident they would overcome all the glitches currently being experienced by schools in the province - including the specific ones faced by Semejana Intermediate School.