TSHIHENI – Classes under trees will be a thing of the past at Tshiheni Primary School, as the Senior District Manager of Education in Vhembe Region officially opened eight classrooms last Saturday.

Mr Masotsha Mathivha said there are 1 044 schools in this district and Tshiheni Primary is fortunate, because other needy schools are still crying about a shortage of classrooms. “We are expecting better infrastructure at the school in 2006, because the government will allocate R340 million for the development of education,” he said.

“We need all schools to have libraries, laboratories and places of recreation. This is the first phase and we will come back with another development. Some schools are overcrowded and some pupils attend schools in shacks. The average number of learners should be 40 in the primary schools and 35 in the secondary schools,” said Mathivha.

The principal, Mr Ramudzuli Madele, said there are 327 learners at Tshiheni Primary and he regards the building of eight classrooms as a dream come true. He further said the government has spent R1,7 million on the construction of the classes and electrification at Tshiheni. “This school’s pupils have long been attending classes in shabby shelters and under trees and their dreams came true when the government approved they request for classes,” he said. “We have sent about 50 letters to donors and only one company donated R500. The school had its nickname “Masagani Primary” and it was named thus after people had seen that the shack that learners were utilizing as a class was covered by empty bags of mealy-meal,” Madele added.

Mr Abraham Ramugondo from the Tshivhase Territorial Council advised the people of Tshiheni not to vandalize the school. Ramugondo said strict disciplinary measures would be taken against people found to be damaging the infrastructure.

Cllr Alfred Nevondo said people of Tshiheni must care for the property that the government has provided.