Learners from Matroosbergweg Primary School in Belhar will relocate to three neighbouring schools on Monday (8 September 2008) while repairs are completed at their school.

The learners have to move because the roof over a first-floor corridor is unsafe after thieves stole poles supporting the corridor roof structure.

Officials from the Metropole North District Education District Office of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) finalised arrangements today with Symphony primary and high schools and Perserverance High School to accommodate the learners.

The officials expect to appoint a contractor tomorrow (Friday, 5 September) to transport furniture and other materials to the school.

Matroosbergweg teachers will also move to the three schools to teach their learners. Fortunately, Matroosbergweg only has about 290 learners, and the local schools should be able to accommodate them fairly easily.

Meanwhile, physical resource planners from the WCED are working with the school to determine the best options for supporting the corridor roof and to arrange repairs. Options include brick supports, rather than iron poles similar to that were stolen.

The WCED has responded to previous reports by the school of vandalism and has organised repairs. Unfortunately, vandals keep breaking into the school, causing further damage, and sometimes undoing the repairs, for example, recently to the toilet block.

More recently, thieves stole poles that hold up the roof of a walkway, causing the roof to sag.

The WCED's Safe Schools staff will work with Matroosbergweg to review their safety plan. Every school must have a safety plan and a safety committee responsible for implementing it.

In the meantime, Safe Schools has arranged additional security. Longer term security will depend on mobilising community support for caring for the school.