Learners at HS Philips Secondary School in Shirley are sitting exams in classrooms with leaking roofs, broken doors, and in darkness, after electricity cables were stolen. The school has 256 learners, with about 30 having dropped out, half of them recently.
At the start of the year, the school, 30 km from Louis Trichardt, had 286 learners from Grade 8 to 12. Built in 1932 by missionaries, it originally had two classroom blocks. One block, with five classrooms, was destroyed by heavy winds in 2021. The remaining block of six classrooms is crumbling, and one classroom has been converted into the administration office.
Three classrooms have no doors at all. During the rainy season, learners say they do not feel safe. Some have been forced to learn under trees after one block was destroyed. The Limpopo Department of Education provided five temporary mobile classrooms, but learners say they are too hot in summer and too cold in winter. The department anticipates appointing a contractor to do renovations from 1 April 2027.
"We do not know what will happen during lessons or while writing exams. We fear that strong rain and winds could destroy the remaining block and injure many learners," said Grade 10 learner Vutshila Xidzinga.
She added that, despite the dangers, many learners had no choice but to attend the school as most parents cannot afford transport to other public schools. "The windows are broken and the roof leaks. Recently, electricity cables were stolen, and we are learning in the dark. We are afraid the roof might collapse on our children as the ceiling is already falling apart," she said.
The roofs of the remaining block are in poor condition, with some classrooms lacking ceilings. Parents worry as the rainy season approaches. The school kitchen is in a shack, and there are 13 dilapidated Enviro Loo toilets, all without doors. Water is supplied from tanks.
Members of the School Governing Body (SGB) said they had sent several letters to the education department in Polokwane, but the department had only made verbal promises. Chairperson Clematina Maphahla said it pained them to see learners writing exams in leaking classrooms with no electricity.
"We are appealing for donations from businesspeople to buy doors, and we will also approach the chief and the local circuit manager for assistance. We plan to reach out to Eskom for pre-paid electricity, as the funds from the normal, standard sources are not enough," she said.
SGB members said the poor condition of the school contributed to low enrolment. The community has no choice but to wait for the government to fulfil promises made since 2021.
Limpopo Department of Education spokesperson Mike Maringa said the project was allocated to the Department of Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure (DPWRI) for implementation. "DPWRI has advertised for the appointment of a PSP, and the advert closed at the end of September 2025. The school is part of the current approved projects. It is funded for the current financial year for repairs and new infrastructure," he said.