Mtititi – Communications Minister Faith Muthambi’s visit to Peninghotsa High School, in the Mhinga area in Limpopo, has brought hope to learners and educators.
The Minister visited the school on Tuesday as part of her “Back to School” campaign and discovered that some classes in one block of the school did not have a roof. The roof was blown off during a massive hailstorm in the village last February.
There is also no water and toilets at the school and two of the teachers left the school, leaving children with no educators for certain subjects.
Despite being situated in a deep rural area, the school has managed to attract a high number of prospective students because of the high matric pass rate over the past years.
In the 2012 academic year, the school achieved 96 %, in 2013 it achieve a 100% pass rate, in 2014 there was an 88% pass rate, although it dropped to 56% last year.
School Principal Hasani Chauke said the current shortage of educators and some of the classes having no roof were some of the factors which contributed to a tough learning and teaching environment.
He said the provincial Department of Education and Vhembe District office were aware of the challenges at the school.
“Our Grade 12 students wrote their final examinations in those classes without a roof. Some parents have withdrawn their kids this year and we are left with 200 learners.
“We are so excited that the Minister visited; she is well known for not wasting time to deliver services to the people. It's our hope that very soon everything will go back to normal at this school,” he said.
His sentiments we echoed by Grade 11 learner Rhulani Hlungwani who said it was very hot in the area and the classroom environment was not comfortable, which made it difficult to concentrate.
“We are of the view that we see Minister Muthambi helping other destitute people in other provinces - she will help us too.”
Minister Muthambi said the situation needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“We will inform the relevant department at a national level about their situation. We are a caring government not only to those who are living in suburbs, but also to those who are living in the border lying areas of our country,” she said.
Minister Muthambi during her visit discovered that the construction of a new school in the neighbouring village of Altein had been abandoned. The construction of the new school started in 2010 and the building is now being vandalised.
The contractor allegedly disappeared without completing the new modern school.
The Minister handed over shoes to the learners of Mtititi High who travel between 7 and 15 km to school.
At Mtititi High, there is no water and sport facilities, however, the school is producing a high pass rate in Grade 12, where last year they got 93%.
Minister Muthambi will visit more schools on Thursday as part of the Back to School Campaign, before she officially opens a new Parliamentary Office in Malamulele.-SAnews.gov.za
