Question NW1428 to the Minister of Basic Education
29 November 2019 - NW1428
Mashabela, Ms N to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether the Mokala Primary School in the Ratlou Local Municipality in North West was closed by her department; if so, what are the alternative measures that have been put in place to assist the learners to go to school and/or continue with their education?
Reply:
Mokala Primary School was initially a farm school about 13km from Setlagole Village. In 2011, due to the low enrolment of learners the school was forced to close. Learners from the school were moved to Senwamatsana Primary School in Setlagole in 2012. In 2013 the school was reopened in Lopapeng Section in Setlagole. This school was merged with Badiri Primary School from Westend Ranch Farm (34 kms from Setlagole) and Segakeng Primary School was added to the school in 2015.
The schools mentioned above received learners from Setlagole. Now that Mokala Primary, Badiri Primary and Segakeng Primary merged to become Mokala Primary it meant that learners will no more have to move to the farms as the learners are all from Setlagole.
To provide space for learners, mobile classrooms were given to replace the tents which were initially erected to serve as classrooms. The Hon Mec Matsemela instructed the closure of such tents in favour of mobile classrooms.
At the moment the learner enrolment is 660 with a staff compliment of 18 educators. There are 14 mobile classrooms provided. A new school was supposed to be built in 2016 but due to a new site having sought a delay was experienced.