Moyahabo Mabeba
The primary school in the village of Ga-Matlala is far too old and dilapidated for its pupils to receive a decent education.
The Department of Education in Limpopo decided that the best course of action was to transfer the learners at Dibeng primary school to another school in a neighbouring village.
But the children’s parents did not agree, arguing that the long distances the learners would have to walk every day would disrupt their education and put them at risk of danger.
Since the announcement of the schools’ closure was made in June, residents have been staging protests to demand the construction of a new school in Ga-Matlala.
But the provincial department of education has instead approved a relocation programme to Phuti Seopa secondary.
Outraged, the parents took control of their children’s education and demolished the old structure and used the material of its roof to construct classroom shacks.
Kenneth Ramochela of Bakone Ba-Matlala Development Forum said: “After our request for a new school fell on deaf ears several times, we decided to remove the roof from the old structure and build shack classrooms. We have teachers who are willing to teach our children.
“The department of education is not taking us seriously.”
Marry Mpai, a parent of one of the learners, said they resolved to refuse to send their children to school until they get a commitment from the department.
She said “We are doing this for the sake of our children. We want our children to be educated in a safer environment.”
Polly Boshielo, the MEC for education in Limpopo, says she is appalled by the behaviour of parents, arguing that they are depriving their children by refusing to let them move from a dilapidated school to a better one.
In a Facebook post, Boshielo said: “The police are handling the matter and we are also taking the parents to court in terms of the South African Schools Act. We are going to close the school formally and they will see what to do with their own children. A black child will never rise.”
