Vuwani classes resume – but not all

VUWANI: Lessons resumed in troubled Vuwani yesterday, three months after schools in the area were burnt in violent protests against demarcation.

At least 20 schools were torched during the protests in May, which culminated in a boycott of last week’s municipal elections.

Several other schools were vandalised.

Although schooling resumes at most schools, pupils at Mugoidwa Secondary School will have to wait a while longer because arsonists torched four classrooms overnight.

Eager to resume lessons, 14-year-old Ompha Mukwevho was one of many children who excitedly walked to their schools yesterday morning.

But when Mukwevho reached Mugoidwa Secondary, she was shocked to find classrooms had been burnt and vandalised.

She peered through the window of a classroom in disbelief.

The school was apparently set alight on Tuesday night.

Until Tuesday evening, guardians of Mugoidwa pupils were optimistic that lessons would resume.

But the burning of the four classrooms left them disappointed, worried and in fear for their future.

Another Mugoidwa pupil, Mvelelo Mushavhi, 14, said she was hurt and worried.

The four classrooms cannot be used. Bewildered teachers congregated outside the

classrooms without a workplace.

At assembly, the principal, Richard Ramulumu, appealed to pupils to focus on their studies.

“As you know your classroom has been burnt, but we will do everything to make sure that you are taught,” said Ramulumu. Grade 8 pupil Mukwevho added: “It is painful that our classroom has been torched. It’s been three months and I was hoping that we will start again, but now I don’t know where we are going to be accommodated.”

Mukwevho, like many lower-grade pupils in the area, did not write mid-year examinations.

Provincial Education Department spokesperson Naledzani Rasila said there were plans to make sure that lost time would be recovered.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Ronel Otto said investigations were under way.

“The cause of the fire is not known yet. Forensic services will conduct investigations to determine the cause,” she said. – ANA