701 learners taught under the trees

TZANEEN – LEARNERS at Ooghoek Primary School in the far-flung villages of Bolobedu outside Tzaneen still learn under the trees every day irrespective of the weather.

The school is located in Wallie village in the Greater Tzaneen municipality and has a total enrolment of 701 learners and 19 teachers including the school principal.

The school was built in 1961 by residents and 12 of the classrooms are in such poor condition that they pose a danger to the safety of learners and teachers

The six remaining classes are not enough to house all the learners with the result that some learners are taught in the kitchen block and others under the trees.

“We have written numerous letters to the department of education but our efforts came to nothing. They would tell us we were at the top of the waiting list but then we are just given the run around and sent from pillar to post,” school governing body chairperson, Petrus Mangena, said last Thursday.

Mangena said some learners collapsed during lessons on sunny days because of the scorching heat. “Snakes and other reptiles have also made the trees their home and sometimes fall on our children while they are concentrating on their lessons. These conditions are not conducive to learning and teaching,” Mangena said.

“We need at least nine new classrooms to accommodate all our children, a school hall, a library and laboratory to create a better learning environment for all our children,” he said.

Gr. 5 learner, Mariam Letsoalo, said she enjoyed learning under the trees because learning outside was not as stuffy as in the classrooms. “Also, I don’t feel same in the classrooms. I am afraid the building collapses on me as it is rotting beyond repair,” she said.

Gr. 7 learner, Mishack Matlou, said most of the children left school in June to be circumcised and did not come back because of it being winter. “If it was not for the food we get, life at this school would be far worse than at a Koma school. What have we done wrong to deserve this?” he asked.

Education spokesperson, Paena Galane, said the department would start with a programme to rebuild schools and to renovate those which were damaged by storms over the past five years.

He said programme was suspended by the department during the Section 100 administration that was imposed on the province by national government, but would again be in full swing in two weeks time.

“We will investigate the problem at Ooghoek Primary School and act decisively depending on the results of the investigation. Our aim is to make sure that no child learns under trees, or in mud huts or shacks,” Galane said.