Molefe Matlou
Students at Tladi Comprehensive High School in Soweto studied in classrooms with broken windows, doors and leaking roofs, had no toilet facilities and had to crowd together in the four decent classrooms when it rained. But, despite these conditions, the school was never placed on the Department of Education and Training’s priority list for renovation and rebuilding.
After years in the ramshackle classrooms, teachers, students and parents began fundraising two years ago, when they realised the DET was not going to make any plans to rebuild the school and, finally, last month a R3-million reconstruction project began, using Independent Development Trust (IDT) money.
Once the IDT became involved, the DET pledged R1- million to complete the second phase of the project.
Problems at Tladi Comprehensive go far beyond the bad conditions of the school premises. For the last three years, the school had no permanent principal, which delayed the rebuilding. To date, the DET has failed to address the problem and not given any reasons why it has failed to make an appointment.
With many schools in bad shape after more than a decade of class disruptions, Tladi Comprehensive is a fortunate exception in finally getting funds to rebuild. But, for two former SRC members doing standard nine, the long-awaited project means they could be out of school for several months if nearby schools fail to accommodate them.
Kagiso Mashotana and Khotso Tshukudu said “they were unfairly treated by the DET”. “The problem could have long been addressed if the DET was considerate of the plight of black students,” Mashotana said. At one stage, every student at the school had to donate two rand towards the project, said Khotso, “therefore it is not only IDT and DET which are responsible for the rebuilding. We are also involved and we have to take care of the school in future.”