Limpho Sello
MAKHALENG legislator Lepota Sekola has funded the construction of five classrooms at Ribaneng Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) Primary School which will be officially opened after the schools’ winter break in August.
The new facilities will give relief to over 100 learners who have for several years learnt in dire conditions due to the dilapidation of the old school structures.
The school was built in the 1940s and neither the government nor the LEC had renovated it. Decades of neglect had left the classrooms looking like disused chicken pens.
Until 15 June 2018 when schools were closed for the winter break, the learners have been exposed to the harsh weather conditions and risk of injury. Some of the corrugated iron doors of the old classrooms had either fallen off or were now precariously hanging threatening to fall off.
All the windows have missing panes and were now just covered with mash wire.
Although Mr Sekola could not be drawn into revealing the amount that he secured and the source of the funding, he said the classrooms will be ready for use in August 2018.
In 2015 Mr Sekola funded for the renovation of the one big hall that has been shared by the different classes when it collapsed due to ageing. He said although he fixed the old building, he saw it necessary to build new classrooms and sourced donors.
“It was painful seeing the children learn in such appalling conditions especially during winter and on rainy days,” Mr Sekola said.
“Children have rights and their rights were being infringed. Such learning conditions demoralise pupils so we have to ensure that they learn in a conducive environment and that they are encouraged to go to school every day.”
Mr Sekola further said he is targeting to build 10 schools in Makhaleng constituency in the Mafeteng district by the end of his five-year term to improve access to education.
“After the official opening of the Ribaneng Primary School on 29 August 2018 we expect to build and hand over four more schools before the end of the year.”
He said due to shortage of schools in the constituency most boys end up becoming herd boys while girls get married or fall prey of teenage pregnancy.
“That must end so we are supposed to work hard to ensure that more schools are build.
“Some of these children end up engaging in criminal activities when they do not go to school so we have to ensure that we pave way for them. We have to provide comfort to their learning so that they will love going to school. Education is key to future success of our children. So, we must ensure that they are educated,” Mr Sekola said.
