Mobile classrooms promise yet to be delivered
MOUTSE – Parents of learners at Njinga Sindane Primary and O.R Tambo Secondary schools have since been waiting for container classrooms the Limpopo Department of Education promised to supply in February this year.
The parents said the container classrooms promised to be supplied to the schools were to temporarily alleviate overcrowding at the schools as the number of learners increased due to new settlements in the likes of Newtown in Elandsdoorn.
They are now livid that to date, the department has not delivered its promises and learners are now subjected to overcrowding in classrooms amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“This will not only make learning and teaching difficult but will also expose learners and teachers to coronavirus infections as social distancing is impossible under the current set-up. It is clear that the department was playing to the gallery and had no intention of making those containers available” said Seun Mogotji, Bolsheviks Party of South Africa leader.
The container classrooms were expected to create suitable space for teaching and learning at the school while a permanent solution to build a school which would accommodate learners from Newtown and surrounding areas was being processed.
Residents said that it was to their dismay when they heard that the application for the building of a school was rejected and the department’s reasons were that the site earmarked was not appropriate for a school.
Mogotji said that another site could have been identified if the department was serious about building a school in the area.
“We challenge the Limpopo Education MEC, Polly Boshielo, to do the right thing and give the children of Newtown a chance to have a conducive learning environment,” concluded Mogotji.
Tidimalo Chuene, Limpopo Department of Education Spokesperson, said the processes were underway to relocate mobile classrooms from another school which was not under too much pressure to Njinga Sindane and the service provider was on site for the relocation.
Chuene informed that stakeholders at the school have been briefed on the current measures and future plans for the school.
She added that on the application for a new school, it was that the traditional council has approved a tavern closer to the site of the envisaged school.
“We have engaged the council on the matter and still awaiting response whether to give us a new site or stop construction of the tavern next to the school,” concluded Chuene.