The North West Education MEC has condemned the torching of classrooms at Tosca Primary School.

The incident took place on Friday (19/4) after a group of people allegedly entered the school premises and burnt down seven classrooms, school furniture, files and textbooks in the remote village, 170 km west of Mahikeng and 27 km south of the Botswana border.

On Tuesday (16/4), the Department of Labour closed a block of three classrooms after alleging that the classrooms’ condition was not in good standard for teaching and learning, said provincial Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane.

The community later went and closed down the entire school, and a few days later the classrooms were torched.

Education MEC Viola Motsumi is extremely disturbed by the incident and has since condemned the torching of classrooms, said Molokwane.

“This is extremely sad and disturbing. It is disturbing that there are still communities in this province who vent their anger by burning school properties. A school is a centre of knowledge for the community. Really, how do we expect learners to acquire information when we burn schools?

Members of the community burned down seven classrooms, including school furniture, at Tosca Primary School. Photo: Facebook/North West Education

 “Already learners have lost five days of learning and teaching. We have lost all the records of learners due to this horrible incident. As a department we condemn this incident in the strongest terms and call for the immediate arrest of all those behind this fire,” said Motsumi.

Torched buildings and equipment at the Tosca Primary School. Photo: Facebook/North West Education

Meanwhile, Molokwane said the department dispatched a team of officials to meet with community leaders on Sunday (21/4) to find an amicable solution. He added the department is committed to delivering mobile classrooms on Monday to assist with teaching and learning.

A team of counsellors from the department has been put on standby to counsel learners and teachers as soon as teaching and learning resumes.

North West Education MEC, Viola Motsumi, alongside other officials and contractors during the sod-turning of another crucial infrastructural project of rebuilding the Kagiso-Barolong Secondary School. Photo: Facebook/North West Education

The department has been trying to solve school infrastructure problems, including undertaking the ceremonial sod-turning to rebuild Kagiso-Barolong Secondary School and Batho-Batho Primary School last week. 

Concerns over the worsening school infrastructure backlog were raised, especially after Mothelesi Secondary School near Pampierstad was also torched.

Motsumi previously stated that her department will work hard with various stakeholders to address infrastructure challenges within the province.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg