By Johnathan Paoli
Five learners have been arrested in connection with a fire that gutted two prefabricated classrooms at Thuto-Lefa Secondary School in Munsieville, Krugersdorp on Wednesday.
Gauteng education department MEC Matome Chiloane strongly condemned the destruction of school property, calling the act criminal and deplorable.
“Burning a classroom is not a form of protest, it is a criminal act that robs learners of their right to quality education. We will not tolerate such destructive behaviour, and those responsible must face the full consequences of the law,” Chiloane said.
The blaze is suspected to have been started deliberately, allegedly in response to recent changes in the school timetable aimed at improving academic outcomes ahead of preliminary exams.
The fire occurred shortly after midday. Emergency services managed to contain the blaze before it could spread further.
No injuries have been reported.
While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, early indications point to learner dissatisfaction over the school’s recent timetable restructuring.
The changes, implemented by school management, were introduced to ensure that all prescribed curriculum content was covered before the upcoming Grade 12 preliminary examinations and to provide learners with additional revision opportunities.
The timetable adjustment, however, was reportedly met with resistance from some learners.
The South African Police Service has launched a formal investigation into the incident, and four Grade 10 learners and one Grade 9 learner have been arrested.
Authorities are now working to determine the exact roles the learners played and whether others may have been involved.
Chiloane reiterated that the department’s goal was to strengthen academic performance across the province, not to inconvenience learners.
The department has assured parents, learners and the broader school community that efforts were underway to ensure that the loss of the two classrooms would not cause prolonged disruption to teaching and learning.
Officials have been deployed to assess the extent of the damage and develop an urgent response plan.
The department plans to bolster security measures at the school to prevent any further incidents.
Chiloane urged learners, parents and communities to approach grievances constructively and to respect school infrastructure, which belonged to all citizens and played a crucial role in enabling future opportunities for the youth.
INSIDE EDUCATION
