Burgersfort - Learners at three municipalities in Limpopo have been given state-of-the-art schools to help reduce overcrowding and ensure easier access.
Education Minister Naledi Pandor on Friday entered into the second leg of officially opening the Nthame Primary School in Burgersfort, the Fetakgomo High School in the Fetakgome Municipality and the Sekabate Primary School situated in the Tubatse Municipality.
On Thursday President Kgalema Motlanthe accompanied by Minister Pandor, Limpopo MEC for Education Aaron Motswaledi and Finance Minister Trevor Manuel also opened three new schools in the province.
The schools were built in partnership with the Education Department and the Independent Development Trust at a cost of more than R100 million.
Speaking at the official opening of the Nthame Primary School, which has been operational since the beginning of this year, Minister Pandor said government was on a mission to restore the dignity of all South Africans.
"We want to restore humanity in all our communities. We want people to value the importance of education," the minister said.
With regards to the development of children, Minister Pandor called on parents to constantly monitor the progress made by their children.
She also urged parents to ensure that their children always attended school. "They are no reasons for children not to go to school, government has introduced no fee schools," she said.
The minister also expressed disappointment at male teachers who were abusing learners saying that cannot be tolerated. "We must do more to protect our children and deal with those who abuse them," she said.
Speaking to BuaNews, Principal at the Nthame Primary Schools, Mr Matsatsa Morena said he was very excited about the new school.
"Our learners will now learn under good conditions. We used to have more incidences of children being knocked down by vehicles while coming to school, but we hope that will not happen again as the school is closer," he said.
The school has 683 learners and 24 classrooms, including a computer lab and a large staffroom among other things.
A teacher at the school told BuaNews that since the school came into operation, teaching has been easier. "In the past we use to attend classes in shacks that made teaching more difficult especially on rainy days."
