Parents attending an address by the provincial education MEC at Benjamin Mahlasela Secondary this week were in full support of relocating the school's pupils to nearby schools, despite their strong attachment to the institution.
Parents attending an address by the provincial education MEC at Benjamin Mahlasela Secondary this week were in full support of relocating the school's pupils to nearby schools, despite their strong attachment to the institution.
The emotion was clearly visible on the faces of parents and pupils on Monday as Education MEC Mandla Makupula paid a special visit to the vandalised school, following indications that it would be closed.
Makupula reassured the parents, teachers and pupils at the meeting that even if the teachers and pupils do relocate to other schools, the name of Benjamin Mahlasela would be kept alive.
Among ideas for the building's use were that it could be transformed into a teacher resource centre, or be used by another group of pupils who had enough numbers to fully utilise it.
Asked by parent Nokhwezi Jacobs why a school of that size had not been allocated a fulltime caretaker, Makupula admitted the department had failed the school in that regard and went on to acknowledge that the department could have reacted quicker to problems and rumours of the school's closure in 2009.
The school opened in 1996, but over the years attendance and numbers have dropped from 1 600 to the current 106.
This, together with rampant vandalism has forced the department to consider closing the institution and transferring its pupils to nearby schools.
During the meeting Makupula urged the affected parties to express their views on the issue of relocation.
A teacher from the school raised a number of reasons that had contributed to the drastic drop in numbers at the school.
She said when Khutliso Daniels opened, many of the pupils had moved there.
Others had gone to Ntsika. In addition, some of the primary schools had increased the number of grades they offered.
She also blamed an informal settlement that had been built near the school.
This, she claimed, had contributed to the high number of break-ins and vandalism at the school.
Parent Nokuzola Namba said parents in township schools were faced with a painful situation, because they could not afford to send their children to the schools in town.
While they were grateful to the government for the no-fee schools, she said, "our schools are in very bad shape".
"The standard has dropped immensely," Namba said.
She said the relocation must be treated as an emergency because the children were suffering.
Namba's words were immediately echoed by another parent. He said he supported the move, despite the fact that the pupils were so fond of the school.
In response to the parents' comments, Makupula said it was clear that the pupils must be moved. "This is the best thing," he said, suggesting that parents should meanwhile discuss how to protect the name of the school.
If things did improve, he said, they could apply to have the school re-opened.
He reassured the pupils that they would not have to worry about buying new school uniforms for the other schools.
Grahamstown district director Amos Fetsha said the district implementation task team would look at which schools would be best for placing the pupils.
While the parents asked for the children to be relocated immediately, there were calls for the move to be made at the beginning of next term.
Makupula will be back in town on Monday to conduct public hearings in the district.
