The official opening of a new primary school at Hathukutha came as big relief to the village and surrounding communities.

Muratho Primary School, which cost more than R15m, was officially opened by Limpopo MEC for Education Mr Namane Masemola on Tuesday.

Masemola said his department had taken a decision to focus on primary education. He added that the standard of education at primary school level was a source of concern and was not pleasing, as it had a negative bearing on Grade 12 reults. According to him, pupils were not properly prepared in the lower grades to cope at secondary level.

He said some of new measures to be implemented included that principals at primary schools had to take an active part, which the department would monitor stringently. He also called for the formation of education forums in each municipality, to be chaired by the mayor.

Masemola said the construction and opening of Muratho was an important milestone in that it would be first time that the African child would be exposed to such mordern facilities. “As government , we are in line with the 1955 Freedom Charter, which said the doors of learning shall be opened to all and we are doing our part in making education accessible to all,” he said.

Senior traditional leader at the area Chief Gole Phaphuli was very excited. “We have not had a school here nearby and our children needed to travel long distances to access education. We never thought that such a massive, modern structure could be built here in our village. The school has more resources than some of the high schools, and we are very thankful for what our government is doing for our people,” he said.

The chairperson of the school governing body , Mr Thizwilondi Khethani, hailed the opening of the new school as a very important milestone for the villagers. The project came about in 1992, when residents were concerned about the long distances their children had to travel to school and back. In the same year, the community came together to pool R20 per household, but unfortunately, the treasurer vanished with the money.

The following year they managed to collect more money and built only one classroom, with a donation of bricks from a local bricklayer.