A PRIMARY school in Limpopo is buried in piles of rubble after two building projects stalled.
Yesterday, the school governing body (SGB) chairman Eric Maluleke threatened to close Masungi Primary School should the Limpopo department of education fail to resolve the issue by Thursday.
A project to build toilets at the school in Bungeni village , near Makhado, was delayed by two years and a block of extra classrooms, which were due to be completed last year, are standing unfinished.
Maluleke said both structures had to be demolished and rebuilt after inspectors found that the buildings were not up to standard. Meanwhile, the safety of pupils was being compromised by the latrine holes and rubble in the school yard. Maluleke said the existing toilets were built by residents a few years ago but were not enough for the whole school.
Weeds are growing among the bricks and rubble on the school grounds. Maluleke said this was posing a risk to pupils as they had already found two snakes in the classrooms.
He said they asked for a new block of classrooms because of congestion at the school.
Last year, a foundation phase teacher wrote to the department complaining that 117 Grade R pupils were crammed in one class. This year, the same class has 98 pupils.
"This is creating a very serious problem. It is very difficult to teach in such an overcrowded classroom. Problems encountered range from lack of fresh air in the classroom and possible transmission of disease," the letter said.
Department spokesman Paena Galane said they would be very disappointed if the school were closed. "I think the SGB is dangerously excited because they are still new. If they could sit down and understand what is happening in the province they would not do that."
He said it was announced that the March 2015 deadline for achieving 100% sanitation in schools could not be reached for various reasons, including budget.
Galane said they were in the process of hiring a new contractor because the previous one failed to deliver. mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
Rubble causes problems at primary school
A PRIMARY school in Limpopo is buried in piles of rubble after two building projects stalled.
Yesterday, the school governing body (SGB) chairman Eric Maluleke threatened to close Masungi Primary School should the Limpopo department of education fail to resolve the issue by Thursday.
A project to build toilets at the school in Bungeni village , near Makhado, was delayed by two years and a block of extra classrooms, which were due to be completed last year, are standing unfinished.
Maluleke said both structures had to be demolished and rebuilt after inspectors found that the buildings were not up to standard. Meanwhile, the safety of pupils was being compromised by the latrine holes and rubble in the school yard. Maluleke said the existing toilets were built by residents a few years ago but were not enough for the whole school.
Weeds are growing among the bricks and rubble on the school grounds. Maluleke said this was posing a risk to pupils as they had already found two snakes in the classrooms.
He said they asked for a new block of classrooms because of congestion at the school.
Last year, a foundation phase teacher wrote to the department complaining that 117 Grade R pupils were crammed in one class. This year, the same class has 98 pupils.
"This is creating a very serious problem. It is very difficult to teach in such an overcrowded classroom. Problems encountered range from lack of fresh air in the classroom and possible transmission of disease," the letter said.
Department spokesman Paena Galane said they would be very disappointed if the school were closed. "I think the SGB is dangerously excited because they are still new. If they could sit down and understand what is happening in the province they would not do that."
He said it was announced that the March 2015 deadline for achieving 100% sanitation in schools could not be reached for various reasons, including budget.
Galane said they were in the process of hiring a new contractor because the previous one failed to deliver. mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
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