PUPILS and teachers from rural school Caiphus Khoapa Junior Secondary School, in Matatiele, were delighted when Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula handed over three classrooms, that were built by the department, last week Friday.
The school was established by the rural community of Khoapa in 1990. The community built three mud classrooms in 1990 and, in 1995, three more classrooms were donated to the school. In 2012, the community then built an additional three classrooms.
The school principal, Jerry Lepheana, said the school has 179 pupils from Grade R to Grade seven. He said Grade R pupils were taught in mud classrooms. He thanked the Department of Defence and Military Veterans for supporting the school.
Nqakula said government wants to ensure that all pupils are receiving their right to education and have access to learning environments that would stand them in good stead to compete on an equal footing with their peers.
“The expansion of Caiphus Khoapa Junior Secondary School would rid our children of the perils of overcrowded environments and improve their chances of accessing quality education. As we celebrate Nelson Mandela Month, we strive to emulate our country’s liberation icon by supporting our children,” she said.
She called on the private and public sector to invest in the future of children to accomplish Nelson Mandela’s wish.
“Let us spring to action, treat our children with respect and give them the best education our country can afford. Let us respond positively to help fix our education infrastructure by giving the little that we can afford to our schools,” she added.
Eastern Cape MEC for Education Mandla Makupula said the department has also donated school desks. He confirmed that some schools in the province are still using pit toilets however government is working hard to make education more appealing to investors.
Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) escorted Nqakula in the hand-over of the classrooms to the community.
She asked the community to protect the school and not to vandalise infrastructure when protesting service delivery.