DA walks to show concern for learners

The provincial leadership of the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday staged a walk in solidarity with learners of Phunyako High School in Dihlophaneng village, Ga-Molepo after the Department of Education allegedly failed to provide scholar transport for the learners.
One of the learners said they are forced to risk their lives in the bushes walking home after school.
“It is a risk especially for girl learners because anything can happen to them. We were told about the scholar transport years ago but nothing has materialised. We always ask ourselves why the department is keeping us in the loop because we can’t wait anymore,” the learner said.
“I strongly believe if we have scholar transport it will also encourage other learners to attend classes because some are no longer attending classes because of the situation. We are making an appeal to the department to expedite the scholar transport,” the learner concluded.

DA Provincial Leader, Jacques Smalle said several learners are being targeted by criminals who mug them and take their cell phones and other belongings on a daily basis and that poses a risk to their safety on their way to and from school. “Learners are forced to walk between 30 minutes and two hours to and from school and their plea to the department has fallen on deaf ears. The majority of learners walk from Dihlophaneng, Ga-Lekgothwane, Sekgweng, Sebjeng and Podile villages to Phunyako High School. We want the department to look at the matter and improve the scholar transport,” Smalle said.
DA Councillor, David Setjie said learners fall prey to criminals especially in the morning on their way to school because they will be carrying money for lunch and they are also vulnerable.
“It is a disturbing issue which badly affects the learners. They are unable to defend themselves because they are just learners,” Setjie said.
Responding to the allegations, Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Naledzani Rasila said all the villages in Ga-Molepo have secondary schools and some parents choose Phunyako High School.
“There are more than 23 000 learners benefiting from scholar transport provided by the department across the province. These are learners who travel from 5 km and more on a single journey to the nearest school,” Rasila said.

Story and photos: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za

Featured photo: Jacques Smalle, DA Provincial Leader (middle) with party members and some of the learners from Phunyako High School during the solidarity walk at Dihlophaneng village on Monday.