By More Matshediso
BLOEMFONTEIN – Scores of learners in the Tierpoort farming area who used to walk for 30 km to get an education will soon move into new boarding facilities at Kgotsofalo Intermediate School.
The Department of Education has invested at least R9.8 million in new hostel facilities for the pupils in the farming community which spans more than 200 farms.
Most farm workers send their children to the school which was built over 40years ago for children of black farm workers.
Before the hostel construction, learners in the area walked to and from school in all types of weather.
About 78 learners from Grade R to Grade 9 currently stay in Kgotsofalo Intermediate School hostel. The school is the only intermediate school drawing enrolment from four primary schools in Tierpoort.
A new school hostel is currently under construction in Bainsvlei which will give learners an option of choosing to complete their matric in either Bainsvlei or Dr Block High School.
School Principal, Malesela Lekoeneha said he was unhappy with the performance of his school due to inadequate personnel and poor school attendance by the learners especially due to unfavourable weather conditions, and previously transport challenges.
Addressing parents at the commissioning of the hostel last week, Lekoeneha said he would strive to turn the school into a haven for success and achievement. He said he wanted to turn the school into a mini-Tsoseletso, one of the best public schools known for producing commendable matric results.
The school now has a hall, a dining hall with a kitchen and laundry room, girls and boys hostels that accommodates 88 learners. Currently close to 77 per cent of learners are housed in the hostel. It also accommodates six teachers.
Chairperson of the School Governing Body (SGB) said the availability of boarding facilities promised to help improve general performance at the school that boasts only four permanent educators, two temporary educators, one grade R teacher and Grade three assistant teachers.
“Each educator is forced to teach a minimum three subjects in every stream,” said Lekoeneha.
Stanley Malope, Head of Department of Education said his department’s responsibility was to provide quality education in communities.
“We must understand that nations that have succeeded in the world are those that have invested in the education of their children. We must do the same,” he added.
The MEC of Education, Tate Makgoe said building more hostels in rural and farm schools stood as the biggest achievement for his Department.
He said the biggest challenge was to convince parents to hand over their children to move into school hostels. “I had to strategically call a meeting and buy some KFC to convince them that their children are in good hands,” Makgoe added.
He pleaded with teachers in rural schools to do justice to their learners.
“Teachers who teach in rural and farm schools have a tendency of not prioritising their schools and SGB members have the right to monitor whether children are being taught properly or not,” MEC said.
He promised to build a Mathematics lab at the school. “I want to see children of farm owners being registered at this school because of the quality of education provided here,” he added.
“Before the Kgotsofalo hostel’s project the Department had built another hostel at Harmony School that accommodates approximately 300 learners who attend different schools in Virginia,” said Makgoe.
Makgoe said the department had a hostel in the pipeline for Thabo Mofutsanyane district.