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by Ayanda Njemla
05 February 2010
ALTHOUGH the challenge of not having a principal for a long time has been addressed and resolved, now Ndamase Senior Secondary School at Bantingville, Ngqeleni is facing another crisis - a water shortage. Because of a burst pipe, the school´s hostel has been closed since last year.
After continuous struggles to appoint an acceptable principal since the death of the late Mditshane, who was then replaced by the infamous Zilimbola Mpahlana in 2008 who had to be removed because his appointment met with a negative reception from the teachers at Ndamase and students at large, Ndamase has finally appointed a principal, Mncedisi Qangule, who is not new to the school as he was the Head Of Department (HOD) and a teacher at the school,
His appointment comes as no surprise to many as he has been acting in the post since the removal of Mpahlana, but the challenge of no water at the school tops the list. The school Governing Body Chairman, Mbuzeli Jijingubo, said the crisis has been going on since last year when the hostel had to be closed, forcing students to find temporary residences at the surrounding locations.
"We have engaged the Department of Education in the matter but they have complained that fixing the pipes will cost a huge amount and our children are not safe in the location and even there, there is no running water," said Jijingubo. The new principal assured that there will be a turn-around in this year and said they have strategies to be followed in ensuring that things go better. "We plan to improve our Matrc results which are not good and hence we want to focus on our learner attendance policy," said Qangule. He said they will engage with parents to have effective cooperation with them to help encourage their children to attend school. Scholar transport will also be available this year to make sure that all the learners are at school, everyday and on time.
Qangule also condemned the slow process of fixing the water crisis because it has been going on for too long with promises from the Department. "We hope that this year, the matter will be resolved because learners are not safe when staying out of school, away from their parents and because some enjoy the freedom they have, that will hinder their progress," said Qangule.
He added that they want students in the school to make it easy to interact with them and that will assist in achieving better results this year. The Provincial Department spokesperson, Loyiso Pulumane, sauid that the hostel has been closed because of the water breakdown but it has been dysfunctional since 1989 and the burst pipe occurred during the final phases of upgrading the school last year. Because that was not budgeted for, it had to wait until this year´s budget. "Everything has been in order, including scoping and funds are allocated but we have not received the budget which will be available as from April this year", said Pulumane. |
