Pupils at a technical school in Tshwane have not been able to carry on with their studies for almost four months after thieves stole the electric cable and switch, leaving the school without power.
The administration staff and principal at Modiri Technical School, the only technical school in Mamelodi, have since abandoned their offices and squat at another school because of the lack of electricity.
The non-availability of power has also affected teaching as the majority of the practical subjects such as mechanical and woodwork use tools that require electricity to be taught. As a result, some pupils have been going to their teachers' home, where there is electricity, to try and catch up on these subjects.
The school was broken into in April and its generator, which has not been serviced in ages, does not work.
Grade 10 pupil Lesego Motshana, 16, said the situation had been stressful to pupils.
“I only read the book, look at pictures and read about electric instead of doing my practical work. I'm afraid I will fail at the end of the year because I'm far behind with my subjects,” said Lesego.
He said they could not even use their workshop because it is dark inside.
“I have not finished my project and I'm afraid I will repeat the grade because I'm depending on my project to boost my mark to go to another grade,” said grade 10 pupil Kgothatso Phalane.
Kgothatso is enrolled in the mechanical stream, where he does welding and other metal work. The last time he held a machine was in the first term.
'We are pleading with the department to replace the stolen cables and switch so we can continue with our school work because at the end of the year the department will want good marks for us to proceed to the next grades. Where will we get them [marks]?,” said Grade 12 pupil Lesedi Chauke.
Gauteng department of education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department was aware of the problem and they have since appointed the contractor to restore electricity. The company will start its work soon, he said.
“The department has been assisting the school in ensuring that they have access to the necessary resources such as photocopy machines and other resources to ensure that teaching and learning is not interrupted,” said Mabona.
He appealed to community members to refrain from stealing valuable resources from schools as this hindered education.
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