Support needed to rebuild Vuwani schools

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Global child advocacy and humanitarian organisation World Vision South Africa says government, faith-based organisations, civil society and corporates all have an important role to play in providing over 30,000 children from Limpopo with a stable education.

Says Paula Barnard, national director of World Vision South Africa: “The Limpopo Department of Education cannot carry this burden alone as its budget and resources are already stretched beyond breaking point. It is therefore up to us to rebuild the schools in Vuwani and provide access to safe education for its children.”

Storm damage

World Vision SA’s statement follows a recent donor breakfast briefing held by the Department of Education in Limpopo where it outlined the education challenges faced Limpopo. The department for example has already allocated most of its budget towards repairing the 147 schools that were severely damaged by storms earlier this year.

“The reality is no governmental department can budget for and then repair facilities destroyed by communities. It creates a vicious cycle with no permanent solutions. However, as an organisation, we believe the schools must be rebuilt in order to give these children a fair chance at succeeding in the real world.

“Without access to proper schooling, we will be dealing with a lost generation of uneducated individuals which is unacceptable in a time when we all have the right to education."

Calling on the community

World Vision South Africa has also urged Vuwani community members to pool their skills and resources to provide access to schooling. “We’re calling on the community to assist in the repair of salvageable classrooms and other facilities. These facilities can be used in the interim while these schools are rebuilt,” says Ernest Fraser, advocacy team leader at World Vision SA.

“Also, the community needs to engage government in a positive manner, constructively finding solutions to the disputes plaguing Vuwani. It is also up to them to ensure that children go to school free of intimidation.

“The point is the snake is already in the house. Let’s not ask where it came from but rather find ways of dealing with it. And it starts with the Vuwani community that must become part of the solution,” he adds.

Almost 3,000 World Vision-sponsored children from seven schools are impacted by the Vuwani school crisis that includes two high schools (Tshinange and Malovhane schools) and five primary schools (Masakona, Rasikhuthuma, Muvimbi, Rembuluwani and Maweles schools).