The failure by department of education in Limpopo to fix its schools has seen more than 360 learners missing out on school following the collapse of a ceiling.
Pupils at Matlala Primary School in Tshikanosi village, outside of Marble Hall, have not been able to return to school since the beginning of the third term last week after the ceiling fell on the head of a grade 1 learner Kagiso Makuwa, 6, at the end of the previous term.
The parents have decided to close the school, saying it would remain closed until the government intervened by providing mobile classrooms.
The incident mirrors that of more than 1,000 schools whose structures have not been fixed in years while the department's annual infrastructure budget has been dwindling over the years. The department of basic education had previously been in trouble for missing two deadlines to eradicate 1,658 pit toilets at schools.
Last week, four dilapidated schools in Limpopo dragged the government to court to force it to activate the Educational Infrastructure Grant (EIG) it suspended to divert money towards Covid-19 in 2020.
For the community of Tshikanosi, the incident of September 19, which left Kagiso with a swollen forehead, was the last straw after years of asking for the school to be fixed.
School governing body member Phillip Kola said the community founded and built the school in 1923, starting with two classrooms. Additional classes were gradually added from 1945, Kola added.
The walls at the school are riddled with cracks so big one can see through into the next room, while ceiling panels in some of the classrooms have been completely ripped off, leaving exposed electrical wiring hanging out.
“Our children are not safe here anymore. These walls are unstable and we are afraid that one day they will fall on our children,” Kola said. He said they had tried to raise the issue with the department on numerous occasions but to no avail.
Kola said the department promised to deliver mobile classrooms before schools reopened for the new term last week, but when that did not happen, parents decided on closing the school.
Sowetan has seen a letter written to former Limpopo education MEC Polly Boshielo in which the community warns that the building was on the brink of collapse and that promises to assist the school had been made since 2020.
“The building is dilapidated to the extent that it can collapse at any time,” the letter states.
Kagiso’s grandmother Deborah Modisha, said she was shocked when she arrived at the school to find her grandson surrounded by people.
“By the time I got there, I found him lying on the floor inside the office. His forehead was swollen and he was covered in dust,” she said.
Kagiso was taken to the local clinic and was later transferred to the hospital where an x-ray confirmed that there had been no internal injuries.
“No parent wants to send their child to school and have to worry if the building will fall on them. The least government can do for us is provide mobile classrooms,” Modisha said.
Community leader Stephen Makola said parents would not allow their children to enter the school until mobile classes are provided.
“The environment is not conducive. No normal person can put up with this,” Makola said.
Mike Maringa, department's spokesperson, said the school was on the priority list for the next financial year.
“We are planning to procure enough for all the affected schools and the number will be determined by the budget when the contract is in place. We are currently busy with paperwork to ensure that we get the contract ready by November,” Maringa said.
He said they urged parents to allow learners back in class until the contract for mobile classes is finalised.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
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