Parents of learners at Matloding Primary School, located outside Mahikeng, are demanding answers after a classroom ceiling collapsed during a lesson while students were inside. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of learners at the school.
The North West Department of Education had previously pledged to repair the school, which serves both primary and secondary learners. However, the department has yet to relocate secondary school students to a renovated old school building, a move that would free up mobile classrooms for primary learners. This delay has hindered necessary renovations at the primary school.
Parents have accused the provincial education department of neglecting the safety and well-being of the students. One parent expressed frustration, saying, “This just exposed how irresponsible the Department of Education is. They should have rushed here after this incident to see what happened, but they are still not here.”
Another parent highlighted the school's poor conditions, adding, “Our school has no dignity. We don’t know if it’s because we are struggling. Children just help themselves anywhere because there are no toilets. Imagine how senior girl learners change their pads when they are on their periods.”
The incident has raised significant concerns about the department's commitment to addressing infrastructure issues and ensuring a safe and dignified learning environment for all students.