Berea, Aug. 14 — Minister of Education and Training Professor Ntoi Rapapa has on Friday officially handed over a seven-room administration block to Pulane Combined High School in the remote area of Berea.
The administration block, constructed by LP Holdings, comprises offices for the principal, vice-principal, secretary and accounts section, as well as a staff room, storeroom and toilets.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Prof. Rapapa expressed pleasure that the school had received the much-needed facility, saying Pulane was among the last villages on the foothills of Berea.
He said improved services in remote areas were important in encouraging people to remain in their communities instead of migrating to urban areas.
Prof. Rapapa urged the school board, principal and teachers to safeguard the facility and ensure that it was properly managed.
He further urged teachers to uphold professionalism and maintain the school as a child-friendly environment.
“There are a number of schools where we have parted ways with teachers for failure to adhere to the work ethics governing them. As the Ministry of Education, we reaffirm our commitment to maintaining compliance with the law,” he said.
He warned teachers across the country to serve with dedication by reporting for duty and guiding learners towards a better future.
He said where a teacher was absent, the principal should have valid reasons for the teacher’s whereabouts.
Prof. Rapapa said thousands of learners across the country spend much of their time under the care of teachers and school boards, adding that poor working relations could negatively affect their education.
He also cautioned against corporal punishment, saying it had contributed to some children abandoning school.
“Students and teachers should strive to find a common goal of enjoying quality time in the school environment while imparting knowledge,” he said.
Prof. Rapapa urged parents to make greater sacrifices towards the education of their children, saying education required commitment from both parents and teachers.
He appealed to parents to protect children’s rights and prevent practices such as child marriage and taking children to initiation schools at the expense of their education.
He further informed the community that he had requested Prime Minister Samuel Matekane to consider providing at least 300 temporary teachers under the youth apprenticeship programme.
If approved, he said, Pulane Combined High School would be among the schools to benefit from the programme.
Pulane Combined High School Principal Mrs Mpho Mosola described the handover as a memorable occasion, saying the school considered itself fortunate to have been remembered by the Ministry despite its remote location.
She said the school would protect the facility for future generations.
Mrs Mosola said having an administration block had been a dream for the school and its completion had brought a sense of dignity and pride.
“We used to use a shack as our staff room since 2022. Later, through joint efforts with parents, we built a small room, but finally today we have a fully furnished administration block,” she said.
She said the new facility would serve as a strategic place where decisions would be made to improve the lives of learners and unlock their potential.
However, she said the school still faced challenges, including a shortage of teachers, poor accessibility, lack of electricity and other factors affecting the delivery of quality education.
Pulane Combined High School prefect Libuseng Nthafa said education was not only about books and examinations but also about building the future of the country.
She expressed appreciation for the Government’s support, saying education was a key that could open doors and give learners an opportunity to determine their own future.
Representing the school board, Chieftainess Mamohau Kobobo expressed gratitude to teachers who had dedicated themselves to educating children in one of the hard-to-reach areas of Berea.
She said the new administration block was an added advantage that would enable the school to serve the community with dignity.
Chieftainess Kobobo appealed to the Minister to assist the school with a science laboratory to equip learners with relevant scientific skills.
Tebe-tebe Community Council Chairperson Mr. Moeketsi Majara described the new facility as a milestone for the community, saying it brought relief to local leaders.
He said the area still faced challenges, particularly a shortage of drinking water.
Established in 2022, Pulane Combined High School currently has 100 learners and six teachers.
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