Mountain View High School trashed by thieves days before school re-opens
Learners greeted by chaos on first day of school.
The first day of school in the second term was not as fruitful for Mountain View High School’s learners as it was for the rest of the surrounding schools.
In the early morning of April 1, the principal, Mr Steven Nel received a phone call from the school cleaners reporting a break in at the school. They found that electric cables and learning equipment were stolen, and many classrooms broken into and vandalised.
The 650 learners of Mountain View High School arrived at school on April 2, not only to find that they were left without taps, but that their assignment files were strewn on the floor. Teachers could not commence with the new term’s work because all files, papers and documentation were a complete mess. Classes only resumed two days later.
Nine of 28 classrooms were vandalised. The perpetrators stripped classrooms of all electrical cables, light switches and wall plugs, leaving the building stripped of anything of value. Chairs were broken and some doors removed.
Security at the school is a huge concern for parents. One parent said that there used to be 24 hour security, but since the transformer which provided electricity for the alarm system broke down in December, the school was left vulnerable. The school has requested that the Lesedi Local Municipality (LLM) fix the transformer, alas without results and the Department of Education said that they won’t be able to do anything for the school for the next three years due to budget shortfalls.
Since December, thieves contiously sneak into the school with no working alarm. Toilets and basins were broken and there is no privacy in the bathrooms, because most of the doors have been broken down.
Learners say that they need electricity for lights, printing of schoolwork and for heaters in the winter since the prefabricated classrooms become “unbearably cold”.
Despite all the negative influence, the learners remain focused and on point. During the first week of the holiday, Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners attended extra classes. Grade 12 learners attended extra classes in Ratanda as well during the last week of the school holiday.
Currently a small generator provides power to the administrative block, but this is not a sustainable solution due to the hefty price of fuel.
At times like these, learners could ask the government where they are and whether they truly care about them.
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