Just a day after schools reopened for the third term, 95 iQonce High School students were left stranded after a section of their King William’s Town school was gutted by fire.
The Grade 9 and 10 students were affected by the blaze which destroyed two classrooms.
School principal Xhasumzi Mrwashu said the fire started around 1am yesterday and he was notified by the school’s security company about half an hour later.
Firefighters and police were already on the scene when he arrived just before 2am.
He said the Grade 9 classroom, which was razed to the ground, accommodated 35 students, while the Grade 10 class accommodated 60 students.
The school, which opened its doors in 1997, is currently home to 251 students. Mrwashu said classes had to be cancelled yesterday morning.
A nearby storeroom which housed more than 100 stationery packs and old computers, and a nearby Grade 11 classroom, were fortunate to escape the flames, Mrwashu said.
During a Daily Dispatch visit to the school yesterday, hundreds of students could be seen loitering around the premises. Some simply sat in the sun, while others helped teachers to remove burnt debris.
“We suspect that this could have been the work of homeless people who normally occupy our school during the night,” Mrwashu said.
“However, we are not certain and ongoing investigations could reveal where and how the fire started.”
He said the school had had space issues since its inception in 1997 and the loss of the two classes would increase the burden as they did not know where they were going to accommodate these pupils.
The two classrooms were makeshift wooden structures situated at the back of the school.
Mrwashu said they had been knocking on every door since the school was established pleading for assistance.
“We have been engaging the department of education for years. Promises were made and we were told years ago that we were on the priority list for a new and proper school structure,” he said.
“However, to date our pleas have been falling on deaf ears.”
Mrwashu described the current structure as a disaster waiting to happen and that conditions were not conducive to learning.
He said it was a shame that more than 250 pupils had to use only two small toilets while even staff members were “trapped” in a small space used as a staffroom. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Classrooms razed by fire at KWT school
The Grade 9 and 10 students were affected by the blaze which destroyed two classrooms.
School principal Xhasumzi Mrwashu said the fire started around 1am yesterday and he was notified by the school’s security company about half an hour later.
Firefighters and police were already on the scene when he arrived just before 2am.
He said the Grade 9 classroom, which was razed to the ground, accommodated 35 students, while the Grade 10 class accommodated 60 students.
The school, which opened its doors in 1997, is currently home to 251 students. Mrwashu said classes had to be cancelled yesterday morning.
A nearby storeroom which housed more than 100 stationery packs and old computers, and a nearby Grade 11 classroom, were fortunate to escape the flames, Mrwashu said.
During a Daily Dispatch visit to the school yesterday, hundreds of students could be seen loitering around the premises. Some simply sat in the sun, while others helped teachers to remove burnt debris.
“We suspect that this could have been the work of homeless people who normally occupy our school during the night,” Mrwashu said.
“However, we are not certain and ongoing investigations could reveal where and how the fire started.”
He said the school had had space issues since its inception in 1997 and the loss of the two classes would increase the burden as they did not know where they were going to accommodate these pupils.
The two classrooms were makeshift wooden structures situated at the back of the school.
Mrwashu said they had been knocking on every door since the school was established pleading for assistance.
“We have been engaging the department of education for years. Promises were made and we were told years ago that we were on the priority list for a new and proper school structure,” he said.
“However, to date our pleas have been falling on deaf ears.”
Mrwashu described the current structure as a disaster waiting to happen and that conditions were not conducive to learning.
He said it was a shame that more than 250 pupils had to use only two small toilets while even staff members were “trapped” in a small space used as a staffroom. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos