By OBAKENG MAJE
Teaching and learning was affected at Seabo High School in Kokomeng village, near Taung on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. This comes after learners from Molelema, Matsheng and other neighbouring farms, were left stranded as there were no scholar transport buses to ferry them to school.
The Representative Council of Learners (RCL) chairperson at Seabo High School, Rorisang Mpolokeng said they boycotted classes due to lack of scholar transport. Mpolokeng said some learners were forced to walk on foot to school and that put their lives at risk.
“It’s been a while since we raised this kind of a challenge. Even though teaching and learning was affected, this boycott was for a good cause. We decided to stand against the injustice that the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management tries to subject us to.
“Since the reopening of school after winter recess, there was no scholar transport available. Instead, the service provider brought a minibus certified to carry only 32 passengers and cooped us in,” he said.
Mpolokeng further said this resulted in late coming. He added that this also put the lives of learners at risk.
“Normally school starts at 8am, but most learners who are using scholar transport buses arrive at around 10am and sometimes at 11am. This means they miss other periods and that hinders their studies.
“As Grade 12 learners, we are preparing for preparatory and National Senior Certificate examinations. However, without scholar transport, how are we going to cope?” said Mpolokeng.
He said in 2022, a female learner was allegedly raped, while walking home because there was no scholar transport.
School Governing Body (SGB) chairperson at Seabo High School, Matshidiso Nzapheza shared the same sentiments. Nzapheza said they have written numerous letters to the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management and its sister Department of Education, requesting roadworthy scholar transport buses, but their attempt was futile.
“We have a challenge regarding the provision of suitable scholar transport buses. Some learners from Matsheng, Molelema and other areas, always arrive late and this affects their studies.
“We need scholar transport buses that are in good condition and no teaching and learning that will take place until this matter is resolved. We are sick and tired of the way the department ill-treats us,” she said.
North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said: “It is accurate to highlight
that parents took learners out of class around 1:30pm yesterday, citing their children’s difficulties regarding scholar transportation in the mornings.
“This was the reason for their boycott. The complaint was filed in May 2024 by the SGB and the Community Development Worker (CDW) and a representative from North West Community Safety and Transport Management were dispatched to evaluate the buses and their routes.
“The province implements the Learner Transport Programme in collaboration with the COSATMA to offer an oversight. Teaching and learning has been seriously disrupted as a result of learners’ lack of access to transportation during the third term,” he said.
Molokwane said transportation problems have impacted nearly five secondary schools such as Batlhaping High School, Seabo High School, Choseng High School, Kitlanang High School and Bogosing High School.
He said as far as the department is working tirelessly in order to address the transportation challenges in the Greater Taung sub-district, it is working with COSATMA to find a cooperative solution.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management failed to respond to Taung DailyNews media inquiry. However, the response will be incorporated when received.
The Guardian 