Mokibe Primary School is falling apart
Most of the school’s classrooms have holes on the floor, some of the classrooms have no ceilings and most are overcrowded
Mokibe Primary School is falling apart and the parents of the school are worried and concerned.
They say they cannot just fold their arms and let the school parish before their eyes and they want the school to relocate.
The parents of the school have taken action to remedy the situation and they think they have done enough to have the school relocated.
According to the parents led by SBG members, the school was build in 1960 and the building is just falling apart and because of that they have gone all out to look for a sponsor and a site for a new school.
They have documents to back their claim.
Their only problem they claim, is that some officials in the Mpumalanga Department of Education are letting them down.
“Our problems started long before March in 2016 when the school was supposed to relocate to Siyanqoba at the new location. There were two schools that were suppose to be relocated, Mogalitwa and Mokibe. Mogalitwa relocated to Klarinet. Last year (2018) in December some classroom’s roofs were blown away by a strong wind and a corrugated iron sheet nearly hit and injured a learner. We were concerned and worried and an action plan was put in place,” said Ms Maria Sikhosana, a parent and member of the SGB.
She said their first stop was the Emalahleni Municipality to look for a site to build a new school and according to Ms Sikhosana the municipality stated that they do not have a site for the school.
They then approached the Mokibe Manala Tribal Authority and they agreed to donate a site for a new school in their area.
They then approached the Mpumalanga Department of Education who are alleged to say that they did not have funds for a new school.
The parents led by the school SGB managed to source funding from Inyanda Mine who are prepared to build a new school at a cost of R5 million, according to the parents.
“We have been sent from pillar to post by the Mpumalanga Department of Education. They just need to give an approval after all the work has been done. We have a site for the school and the funds for the school, we just need their approval and we have documents to prove that,” added Ms Sikhosana.
They said three department officials were send to the school and confirmed that eight containers have already been send to Siyanqoba for the school to relocate and a certain Mr Mnguni was in charge to deliver the containers.
According to the parents they were told that Mr Mnguni was busy when they tried to phone him to verify about the issue of containers.
Most of the school’s classrooms have holes on the floor, some of the classrooms have no ceilings and most are overcrowded.
In Grade One there are 78 learners, Grade Two 82 learners in a class, in Grade Five 39 learners and in Grade Six 43 learners).
The school have a total enrolment of 459 learners and have only two pit toilets.
Ms Sikhosana said the classrooms are very hot in summer and very cold in winter.
“What else must we do to have a better future for our children like any other child in South Africa? We have done enough to have a school build for our children, we just need approval from the department, is that asking too much?” asked Ms Sikhosana in conclusion.
A questionnaire was sent to the Mpumalanga Department of Education Media Liaison Officer Mr Gerald Sambo for a response but no response was received before going to print.
