The department of education in the Northern Cape says learning at the New Petrusville Primary School will only start on Monday 22 January 2024 for the 2024 academic year. The department says the school is currently under construction, where the Department is replacing the asbestos roof from the school building. The department says that the decision to only open the school on Monday is due to the exposure of asbestos, which poses a health risk to educators, support staff and learners. Furthermore, the department indicated that the delay is due to the intermittent rainfall over the past weeks in the area. The contractor assured the Department that the school premises will be ready and safe for occupation by the end of this week. Spokesperson of the department Geoffrey Van Der Merwe says the district office, together with the school will institute a curriculum recovery plan for the three schooling days lost.

Journalist: Rene Julies
Email: rckjulies@gmail.com