TWO of the worst school hostels in the Eastern Cape are undergoing renovations, a move welcomed by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) during a visit yesterday.
Members of parliament, the provincial legislature and other provincial departments visited Freemantle Boys’ High and Mount Arthur Girls’ High, which were identified by an award-winning Daily Dispatch investigation into the state of hostels last year.
The NCOP’s Zukiswa Ranto, who led the delegation, said: “The pace of work is too slow. The department has taken longer to act. We are going to raise these matters and outstanding issues to parliament to see whether the national department can intervene or monitor .”
She said both facilities were historic missionary schools which had produced well-known professionals and the province and country could not afford to lose their heritage.
Chair of committees at the provincial legislature Alfred Mtsi agreed the work was taking too long.
Eastern Cape education boss Mthunywa Ngonzo said his department had set aside a budget to renovate hostels following the investigation.
Ngonzo said the two hostels were also part of the heritage and historic schools set to benefit from a project led by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane.
“The department has been running without a maintenance budget for these hostels and for years it has been losing its infrastructure grant to other provinces, but this year we will spend all of it.”
Ngonzo said there were plans to provide hostels and newly-built schools with adequate furniture and learner support materials.
A report by the Lady Frere district office states that 75% of renovations had been done at Freemantle .
In Mount Arthur, toilets were being built for girls in their dormitories.
“Children were moved to other renovated facilities which were previously used to store materials, while plans were being made to set up palisade fencing for hostels and additional classrooms,” the report states.
An amount of R5.2-million had been set aside for Freemantle Boys’ High and R7.2-million for Mount Arthur Girls’ High.
Freemantle school governing body member Nkululeko Dlikilili said he was happy with the renovations but issues of security also needed to be resolved.
“There is no security at the school and we sometimes get called from the village to defuse problems caused by the boys. There is a lot of ill-discipline here and a boarding master is required.”
Freemantle Boys’ High School principal Godfrey Madliwa said the Dispatch investigation had played a huge role in pushing the department into action . “But we still don’t have matrons and people to look after these children.”
Mount Arthur acting principal Vuyisile Mtolo also had no matrons to look after the children.
A parent at Mount Arthur said: “We need the department to take these matters seriously or there is a danger that these hostels, once renovated, will be looted and damaged because there’s no one to monitor these children.” —
Thumbs up for school hostel renovations
Members of parliament, the provincial legislature and other provincial departments visited Freemantle Boys’ High and Mount Arthur Girls’ High, which were identified by an award-winning Daily Dispatch investigation into the state of hostels last year.
The NCOP’s Zukiswa Ranto, who led the delegation, said: “The pace of work is too slow. The department has taken longer to act. We are going to raise these matters and outstanding issues to parliament to see whether the national department can intervene or monitor .”
She said both facilities were historic missionary schools which had produced well-known professionals and the province and country could not afford to lose their heritage.
Chair of committees at the provincial legislature Alfred Mtsi agreed the work was taking too long.
Eastern Cape education boss Mthunywa Ngonzo said his department had set aside a budget to renovate hostels following the investigation.
Ngonzo said the two hostels were also part of the heritage and historic schools set to benefit from a project led by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane.
“The department has been running without a maintenance budget for these hostels and for years it has been losing its infrastructure grant to other provinces, but this year we will spend all of it.”
Ngonzo said there were plans to provide hostels and newly-built schools with adequate furniture and learner support materials.
A report by the Lady Frere district office states that 75% of renovations had been done at Freemantle .
In Mount Arthur, toilets were being built for girls in their dormitories.
“Children were moved to other renovated facilities which were previously used to store materials, while plans were being made to set up palisade fencing for hostels and additional classrooms,” the report states.
An amount of R5.2-million had been set aside for Freemantle Boys’ High and R7.2-million for Mount Arthur Girls’ High.
Freemantle school governing body member Nkululeko Dlikilili said he was happy with the renovations but issues of security also needed to be resolved.
“There is no security at the school and we sometimes get called from the village to defuse problems caused by the boys. There is a lot of ill-discipline here and a boarding master is required.”
Freemantle Boys’ High School principal Godfrey Madliwa said the Dispatch investigation had played a huge role in pushing the department into action . “But we still don’t have matrons and people to look after these children.”
Mount Arthur acting principal Vuyisile Mtolo also had no matrons to look after the children.
A parent at Mount Arthur said: “We need the department to take these matters seriously or there is a danger that these hostels, once renovated, will be looted and damaged because there’s no one to monitor these children.” —
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