By Anita Dangazele
Parents of children from Long Hope Farm School in Gubenxa near Ugie in the Eastern Cape are angry about plans to move their children to another school over an hour and a half away after their school burned down three weeks ago.
Parents were initially promised temporary classrooms so their children could continue their education locally.
Bongeka Zathu, a parent, said: “The district director, Bedeshani Mceleli, visited the school after the fire and promised prefabricated classrooms. We were happy with this, and the Wesley Methodist church offered to host the learners temporarily.”
However, parents were shocked to read in a local newspaper that the Eastern Cape education department planned to move their children to another school.
“These are young children. They will now have to wake up very early to travel a long distance to school,” Zathu said.
Eastern Cape education department spokesperson Vuyiseka Mboxela said the department did not have the funds for temporary classrooms and found relocating the students easier.
“Given the two options – temporary classrooms or relocating learners – relocation is the simpler solution, and we are looking into providing transport for the students.”
Parents are concerned about existing issues with scholar transportation.
“We live far apart on the farm, and the department provided three taxis, but only two have been operating. Each 15-seat taxi takes at least 32 learners, and one taxi often doesn’t show up.
“How will these issues not get worse if our children are moved to another school?” Zathu asked.
Mboxela asked the parents to comply with the relocation plan.
“If the district director is proposing the relocation, parents must be open to it,” Mboxela said.
Pictured above: What’s left of the Long Hope Farm School in Gubenxa that burnt down three weeks ago.
Source: Supplied
