Parents in the small village of Khothane, Ngqamakhwe, Eastern Cape, are expressing deep concern for their children’s safety as they attend Mntla Primary School. The school, which was started by parents in the 1970s, consists of prefabricated classrooms dating back to 1985 that are now falling apart. With ceilings caving in, windows broken, and walls collapsing, parents worry about the potential dangers posed to their children.
The dire state of the school has resulted in inadequate facilities for both students and staff. When it rains, all 72 learners in grades R to 7 are forced to use the staff prefab, which is in a slightly better condition, for teaching. Additionally, the school lacks basic amenities such as clean drinking water. The municipal supplied standpipes are often dry, leaving the school dependent on a rainwater tank. Moreover, the school is currently without electricity due to wind damage to the solar panels.
Parents have been tirelessly advocating for a new school for the past ten years. They have made countless visits to the Eastern Cape Department of Education offices, both at the local and provincial level, as well as the local municipality, in a desperate plea for assistance. While the department promised to deliver new prefabs this year, those promises have yet to materialize.
Community leader Nowandile Nyalambisa lamented the lack of action from the authorities. She expressed her disappointment, saying, “I don’t think there are any schools in this province that look like ours. It’s bad. Even the department officials hardly visit this school because they are ashamed.” Nyalambisa also highlighted the school’s insufficient maintenance budget, forcing parents to take matters into their own hands. They have resorted to using building blocks to cover collapsing walls in their attempts to provide a safer environment for the children.
The dire conditions have led to the consolidation of classrooms, with grades 4, 5, and 6 now sharing one classroom after the wall of the grade 6 classroom collapsed. Holes in the walls and roof allow rainwater to seep in, leaving students exposed to the elements.
During the visit, we met a dedicated teacher who was once a student at the school. Understanding the importance of the school to the community, she chose to stay and teach despite the challenging conditions. “Most teachers, once they see the conditions of this school, they ask for transfers to other schools,” she said. “I know the community needs this school, and I don’t want the school to close. If I had money, I would build it on my own.”
The deteriorating state of Mntla Primary School has led to a decline in enrollment, as parents opt to move their children to schools in larger cities. However, parents firmly believe that if the education department addresses the urgent need for repairs and improvements, they would gladly bring their children back to Mntla Primary School.
Even during elections, the school serves as a voting station, highlighting its significance within the community. In 2021, parents frustrated with the conditions locked the gates and refused entry to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), necessitating police intervention.
Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Malibongwe Mtima, insists that repairs to the school’s classrooms are on the schedule for this financial year. According to Mtima, the materials have been purchased, and they are now awaiting delivery. However, Nyalambisa and Ndandala remain skeptical, having heard similar promises in the past.
It is high time for urgent attention to be given to the dilapidated state of Mntla Primary School. The safety and education of the children should be of paramount importance, and immediate action must be taken to provide them with a conducive learning environment. The government, the education department, and the local municipality must come together to address this pressing issue and secure a brighter future for the students of Mntla Primary School.
