Delays in mobile classrooms delivery leave Hosea Aphane learners in limbo

KGOBOKWANE

Parents and concerned community members of learners at Hosea Aphane Primary School in Kgobokwane Village, Moutse, say they are worried about the Limpopo Department of Education’s (LDoE) failure to provide the school with mobile classrooms.

The school was blown by a heavy storm on 28 November 2024 and according to parents, the department promised to deliver the mobile classrooms before the schools re-opening in the 2025 academic year.

Following the incident, the LDoE visited the school for risk assessment inspections, in which an assessment report revealed that the school structure is very old and could not be renovated. The report also stated that the whole school structure is posing risk and should be demolished and a new structure be constructed.

Hosea Aphane was constructed about 50 years ago with contributions by Kgobokwane community members. No proper structure was built by government ever since the school was established in the 1970s.

The school admits pupils from Grade R to Grade 9 and due to the unfortunate incident, only eight classrooms are still intact after 8 others were blown away during the heavy storm.

Due to the high number of enrolment, the remaining classes are unable to accommodate all the learners, urging the school to use a rotational system per grades for teaching and learning on daily basis.

Zakhele Matseke, Chairperson of Hosea Aphane School Governing Body (SGB), told the paper that they are disappointed with the LDoE’s empty promises.

“This is sad because the rotational system is badly affecting learners on their studies as some remain at home during the process and left behind on their studies. The department promised to supply mobile classrooms but they failed to deliver. They keep on telling us that the mobile classrooms are on the way,” he said.

Matseke indicated that due to lack of classrooms, teachers are urged to only attend to intermediate phase pupils on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while the senior phase is attended to only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We are rotating the learners because there are not enough classrooms to accommodate the rest of them. We appeal to the department to please deliver mobile classrooms because our children are suffering,” he said.

LDoE Spokesperson, Mike Maringa, told the publication that the department had procured mobile classrooms for Hosea Aphane Primary and they are currently awaiting delivery.

“The update we got from the service provider is that the mobile classrooms were loaded last night (Sunday 16 February) but they are not able to move because of the rain. The delivery will be done this week if the weather is permitting,” he said.