Learners Return to School Without Roofs After Theft During Recess

When schools reopened for the third term today, learners at Mmanjaakgoro Primary School in Prisca village, Moretele, were met with an unexpected challenge: several classrooms had no roofs. Over the school recess, the roofs of Grade 1, 2, and 3 classrooms were stolen.

The North West Department of Education MEC, Viola Motsumi, strongly condemned the theft, which was discovered on Saturday, 06 July 2024. This incident has prompted swift action from the department to ensure that learning continues despite the adverse conditions.

To mitigate the impact on the students, the Department has arranged for a library to serve as a temporary classroom for multigrade Grades 1, 2, and 3. This measure aims to provide some stability and continuity in education, especially important during the harsh winter season.

“We urge parents to remain calm as we work diligently to resolve the situation and implement the best possible solutions,” said MEC Motsumi.

MEC Viola Motsumi expressed her deep concern and disappointment regarding the incident. She emphasized that the theft was not only a criminal act but also a direct attack on the future of the children.

“We can confirm that the roof of the structure that accommodates three classrooms – Grade R, 1, 2, and 3 – has been stolen. I wish to state that the theft of the school roof is not only a criminal act but a direct attack on the future of our children. It is disheartening to see such behavior, especially as we prepare for the reopening of schools for the third term in the thick of winter.”

Motsumi highlighted that the act disrupts education and undermines the rights and dignity of the children, as well as the progress made in improving school performance. “This act not only disrupts the education of our learners but also undermines the rights of children, human dignity, and the progress we have made in improving the performance of our schools. I met with the principals of underperforming schools just last Friday, 05 July, and incidents like these only hinder the strides we are making. We are committed to ensuring that our learners receive the education they deserve, and we will not allow such acts to derail our efforts. However, in the meantime, we have arranged a library to accommodate three grades and a mini library for Grade R,” Motsumi stated.

The North West Department of Education is collaborating closely with law enforcement to bring those responsible for the crime to justice. The department has also appealed to the community to help safeguard the schools and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.

This incident serves as a reminder of the need for community vigilance and collective responsibility in protecting educational infrastructure and ensuring a secure environment for learning.