A CLASSROOM for special needs learners needed an urgent repair to its ceiling which was riddled with holes.
With the help of local supporters, the DA councillors in Koukamma were able to repair the ceiling of the classroom at the McLachlan High School in Joubertina recently.
Acting Principal, Stan Pienaar, says there is a great need for education facilities for learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) in the Langkloof, but there are not many institutions of its kind in the area.
“These are children who cannot function in mainstream schools. There is no craft-oriented school in the Langkloof, so the need for classrooms for such learners is great.”
According to Pienaar, the school approached individuals in their personal capacity for funding, and then hired a retired LSEN teacher in 2015. In 2015, one classroom was dedicated to LSEN learners.
Since the project was established in 2015, the number of LSEN learners who receive tuition at the school has increased to 12, between Grade 1 and Grade 7. Pienaar says that until recently, the ceiling of the LSEN classroom was in a dire state with multiple holes.
In a bid to ensure that learners are in a safe environment when they returned to the school earlier this month, the DA raised funds to repair the ceiling of the special needs classroom.
DA Koukamma Caucus Leader, Richard Krige, says that during his oversight visit to McLachlan High School in June this year, they identified that the ceiling needed to be repaired. Krige says the school advised him that it was not necessary to replace the entire ceiling – only a section needed to be repaired.
“Our learners are our future. It is our responsibility to assist them in any way possible.”
Krige confirms that they plan to embark on similar projects in the area soon.
