THE walls of their school, built in 2009, were cracked but it seems the authorities hoped the problem would just go away.
But the cracks only got worse and, when rain struck during the school holiday early this month, a classroom collapsed.
Now grade 9 pupils at Nkangala Secondary School in Weenen, KZN Midlands have no choice but to learn under a tree!
The parents blame the KZN Education Department, saying it ignored their complaints about the bad state of the school.
School governing body chairman Shayina Sithole said they always got the same answer from the department when they complained – that there was no budget.
“Our kids have been left studying under a tree because of the department.
“They said they had no budget to fix the school, not even for mobile classrooms,” said Sithole.
He said if the rain continues it simply means there will be no schooling for their children.
He said after Tuesday’s storm in KZN, the pupils were sent home.
Parent Sibongile Ntombela (32) said she feared for the children’s safety.
“I was surprised to see children still learning under trees in this day and age.
“We feel the department is not making our concerns a priority.
“We’ve been complaining since last year.”
KZN Education spokesman S’celo Khuzwayo said they received the complaints about the cracked walls.
“There are processes we have to follow in doing assessments and investigations,” he explained.
Khuzwayo said the department hadn’t yet received a report about the classroom that collapsed.
But he said mobile classrooms will be provided while they look into the situation.
