Vuwani Gr 12s swelter as they write finals

Grade 12 learners in Vuwani are going ahead with the writing of their final exams, albeit under extremely difficult circumstances at some schools.
This emerged following a one-day visit by DA Shadow Minister for Basic Education, Ian Ollis and his deputy, Nomsa Marchesi to two schools in Vuwani on Tuesday morning.
During an interview shortly after their visit, Ollis told Polokwane Observer that the DA was concerned that Grade 12s would not be able to write their final exams due to their schools being damaged during past protest action by the community. In September at least 25 schools in the area were damaged by protesting residents who were unhappy about Vuwani being made part of the newly established Lim345 Municipality.
Ollis said protest action resulted in learners missing some 19 days of learning this year, and protests resulting in shutdowns occurred in September when the Grade 12s should have been writing their preliminary exams. “As it is, the learners at the schools we visited were able to catch up their work with extra classes, and write their preliminary exams later. However, they only finished writing their prelims on 20 October and started writing their finals today (Tuesday), which means their prelims have not been marked yet and they were unable to do revision from them,” Olis explained.
Marchesi said the two schools they visited were Vhafamadi and Vhudzani secondary schools. “At Vhafamadi Secondary School, the Grade 12s were writing their exams. The school has been rebuilt with funds from private donors,” she said.
Ollis said while the Grade 12s at Vhudzani Secondary School were also going ahead with the writing of their final exams, they were doing so under extremely difficult circumstances. “Portable prefab classrooms have been provided until the school has been rebuilt, but it is excruciatingly hot inside them,” he said. He added that there was no sign of any building contractors or building work going ahead.
Marchesi said R177 million was allocated for the rebuilding of schools damaged by protest action in Limpopo. “We are awaiting an answer from the Limpopo Department of Education about what has been done with this money and how much is left, as well as when the schools that are still damaged are going to be rebuilt,” she said.
Ollis said the DA has proposed that the posts of principals, deputy principals and other critical staff be declared essential services, meaning that they will not be able to strike, while other educational posts do. “These key educators will be able to supervise and care for learners’ well-being whenever there is strike action allowing them to focus on their education,” he said.
Ollis and Marchesi commended the resilience of the learners and staff who have committed themselves to getting and providing the best education they can.

Story, photos & video: KAREN VENTER
>>karen@observer.co.za