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Sukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
DEPUTY Home Affairs Minister Obedingwa Mguni has handed over a donation of $30,000 to Hlanganani Secondary School in Mangwe District to help construct classroom blocks for the pupils who are learning under trees.
The Lotteries and Gaming Board under the Ministry of Home Affairs availed the money.
Handing over the donation to the school, Cde Mguni who is also the MP for Mangwe said that children had a right to a proper learning environment.
He urged development partners to contribute towards improving learning conditions for rural children.
Hlanganani Secondary School which is located in Hobodo area was opened last year, enrolling Form 1 and Form 2 pupils. Before the school was constructed pupils had to travel more that 15 kilometres to reach the nearest schools, Khalanyoni and Sangulube Secondary Schools.
“Educating our children is key to developing our communities but it is saddening that some children in rural communities are not attending school while some are exposed to poor learning conditions.
“Some of our children do not have access to learning facilities such as science labs while others do not have learning institutions within their vicinities. As a result a number of youngsters drop out of school at primary level and they do not proceed with their education,’’ he said.
Cde Mguni said the completion of construction of Hlanganani Secondary School was critical as a number of children within the school’s vicinity had not attained secondary education because of an absence of schools.
He said the school was expected to offer vocational training upon its completion.
The school’s headmaster, Topollo Matsetlo said the school had an enrolment of 110 pupils. He said the school was operating with one classroom block with had two classrooms.
Matsetlo said a second classroom block was under construction and said there was urgent need for its completion.
“Community members came up with the idea to construct the school in 2006 but the project only started in 2014 because of financial constraints then we started enrolling last year.
“At the moment we cannot accommodate all forms because of financial constraints. This money will however go a long way in assisting in completing the school block under construction. It is also our wish to have a fully-fledged school soon,” he said.
Matsetlo said Hlanganani Secondary School had four feeder primary schools located in two villages. He said in the past some children that completed their primary education from the schools were forced to drop out because of the absence of a secondary school.
Online Reporter