The Parliament of South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on the 11th of February 2019, received a briefing on the petition from the residents of Dryharts Village.
This petition was calling on the Assembly to look into the re-opening of the Molehabangwe Middle School, submitted in terms of Rule 347. Molehabangwe Middle School, was closed down in December 2015 when it was merged with Sekate Mahura Middle School as part of rationalisation.
According to the Department of Basic Education, Sekate Mahura and Molehabangwe Middle Schools were identified for rationalisation in 2012, because of the following factors which were taken into consideration during this process:
I. Both the schools were middle schools and had to be phased out through rationalisation.
II. Both schools could not be allowed to introduce FET Phase because they were considered not to be viable and functional.
III. The enrolment of both middle schools could not reach 450.
IV. The infrastructure capacity of the two schools could not enable the Department to introduce FET Phase in either of the two.
V. Sekate Mahura Middle School did not have full Management compliments.
After extensive consultation to merge these two schools was conducted, a variety of stakeholders, including; educators, teachers unions, the SGBs, parent and the local chief, were consulted. The larger part of the community supported the closure of Molehabangwe Middle School and its merger with Sekate Mahura Middle School while the minority view was that the school must not close down, but must be allowed to introduce the FET Phase. The proposal from the Department was that the school must downgrade to a primary school as a compromise. This proposal was rejected with contempt by those opposing parties. The school was eventually closed, and the staff and learners were relocated to Sekate Mahura Middle School. A new proposal was subsequently tabled that Sekate Mahura Middle School and Boijane High School must also merge and create a new school by the name of Sekate – Boijane Mahura Secondary School.
The resuscitation of the initial proposal by the Department to re-open Molehabangwe Middle School as a primary school was brought forward by the Tribal Authority of Ba Ga Phuduhucwana in June of 2019 to the District. In a constant fashion, a letter from the Kgosi Kgolo Phuduhucwana Traditional Council tabled a letter of support to the course of the re-opening of the Molehabangwe Middle School as a third primary school in Dryharts. Sighting that this could be a solution to the current over crowding in the neighboring Molemoeng Primary School. The council also believes that this will also assist in shorting the distance travelled by children.
A former Principle at Molehabangwe Middle School, Jacob Charles Mvula, also table a presentation during the briefing. Mvula highlighted in his presentation, amongst others, his life an individual who had attended a farm school as a youngster, the school’s (Molehabangwe) background, as well as reason why he believes the school should be re-opened. “We need to prioritise their education
The Bible says “if your child asks for bread doesn’t give him stone. If he asks for fish, don’t give him snake”. Let’s give the best education that we can.” said Mvula.
Mvula concluded by thanking Chief Tshepo Mankuroane and Chief Lehatshe Molale of the Baphuduhucwana Traditional Council in Taung for their support.
The North West Province’s Department of Education also contributed to the briefing by tabling a report on the petition from Dryharts village on the re-opening of Molehabangwe Middle School as a primary school.
In the report, the Department confirmed that the school will be re-registered to be operational in 2021 academic year and be furnished with all the necessary resources during 2020.
-The VIP Team
-GCIS
-PMG
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