adminSukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
PUPILS at Dukwe Primary School in Mangwe District are learning in the open after their school was destroyed by a hailstorm last week.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Obedingwa Mguni donated stationery to the school yesterday and urged other well-wishers to help towards rebuilding the school.
Speaking during the handover of 1 000 exercise books, Cde Mguni who is also the MP for Mangwe Constituency, lamented poor learning conditions that pupils at the school were now exposed to.
“It is alarming to learn that pupils are now exposed to harsh learning conditions as a result of the hailstorm. To make matters worse this misfortune occurred at a time when Grade Seven pupils are writing exams.
“I would like to urge various stakeholders to contribute towards reviving the school by donating money and other necessary resources,” said Cde Mguni.
The school’s headmaster, Mr Khumbulani Ncube said some pupils were learning in open air due to limited learning space.
He said 261 pupils were affected out of an enrolment of 403 pupils.
The headmaster said the school needed $4 300 to replace the damaged roofing and $1 400 to replace damaged textbooks.
Mr Ncube said the school also lost teachers cottages that were accommodating three families.
He said the community and the school’s SDC committee had resolved during a meeting that parents would not be levied towards repairs as some of them had been affected at their homesteads.
About 10 homesteads and shops at Dukwe Business Centre in Madabe Centre were also destroyed by the hailstorm.
Two villagers sustained injuries after they were struck by flying debris from affected structures.
The councillor of the area, Mr Nkosilathi Khahlu said affected families were in need of food and clothing.
@DubeMatutu.
Online Reporter