By Neo Kolane
The deplorable state of rural schools once again takes centre stage with the recent emergence that Ha Long Primary School in Thaba Tseka district, some 170km from Maseru City, lacks both adequate learning facilities and teachers.
The poor conditions have now raised eyebrows from a several quarters.
This lamentable situation is forcing learners to study and be taught in overcrowded classes.
The school, founded in 1972, is owned by the Roman Catholic Church. It has 130 pupils from Grade One to Six. But there are only two teachers who work at the facility.
A rickety structure that serves as a classroom accommodates learners for Grade One to Four, and has no windows while its door does not close properly, exposing both teachers and pupils to inclement weather conditions.
The class also is used as storage and the teachers’ office while the floor is in bad state as it has potholes.
Simollang Tjokosela, the principal who has held this position since 2019, told theReporter that the work load is excruciating hence a need for a number of tutors to help alleviate the burden borne by the two teachers.
Tjokosela said the need of more building is crucial because during winter many children fail to go to school. The thatched roof of the school and the half closed door brings coldness into the classroom leading to the children getting sick.
The facility has no Grade Seven as it is gripped by shortage of building to accommodate more learners.
“Having a Grade Seven class will make Ha Long Primary School recognizable and the work progress will be seen,” he said.
Tjokosela also disclosed that shortage of furniture and learning materials are another major constraint.
He mentioned that children sometimes go outside the classroom to learn during the sunny days as a tactic to beat the cold.
“Fortunately, the Member of Parliament for Mantšonyane constituency Khobohelo Mokoma built two classrooms for Ha Long Primary school in 2017 after he visited the school. We are grateful for that effort and we are pleading for more structures,” Tjokosela said.
He said plans were afoot to seek assistance from the ministry of education as the school’s board has been informed of the deplorable conditions.
He also said that the Roman Catholic Church priest, Father Lithebe Tjokosela, a pastor at St Lawrence mission, was aware of the situation
According to the World Data on Education, provision and management of education in Lesotho is characterised by a strong partnership between the government and the churches.
“School ownership and control has remained largely in the hands of the churches, with the government giving direction and financial support––mainly for payment of teachers’ salaries. In this context, education is widely regarded as a joint responsibility shared by the government, the churches and the community,” the World Data on Education observed.
According to a recent ministry of education survey, 43 percent of primary school pupils have no furniture, while many others have chairs or benches, but no desks upon which to write. With regard to learning materials the ministry of education and training, through a national book loan scheme, has made impressive progress in providing basic textbooks––an average of 4.4 books per primary pupil––, but shortages of supplementary materials such as teachers guides and pupils workbooks are apparent.
Approached for comment on the conditions at the school and the church’s plans to upgrade it, the Catholic Schools’ Educational secretary, Bereng Mosuoe, told this publication this week that print media publish false information and therefore he would not comment on anything.
