Bathurst town out to save historic school

THE shocking state of a Bathurst school built by British settlers soon after their arrival in 1820 has galvanised the community to raise funds to save the buildings – national monuments – from falling apart.

After years of waiting for the Eastern Cape Education Department to renovate the 190-year-old buildings, new Bathurst Primary principal Andre Laas appealed instead to cash-strapped residents for help fix one of the oldest schools in South Africa.

There was widespread concern over the state of the buildings and the cost of fixing them, but fundraising attempts seemed futile – until the Lions Club of Port Alfred stepped in to help.

Local Lions president Lloyd Stephenson yesterday said they were shocked by what they saw at the school.

The damage – running into thousands of rands – includes collapsing ceilings, broken windows, rusted and leaking roof sheets, rotting floorboards, inadequate ablutions for 126 children and peeling paint.

"I am a former school headmaster and I cannot believe a government that is supposed to care for the poor can allow something like this to happen," Stephenson said.

The Port Alfred Lions belong to a worldwide network – Lions International – which boasts more than 1.35-million members in 46000 clubs that try to improve the communities where they are based.

According to a letter sent to possible donors it is hoped every rand raised will be matched by a US dollar from Lions International.

Stephenson said letters appealing for financial help or free or discounted rates on material had been sent to individuals and local businesses.

Staff at the school yesterday said they were forced to tell pupils to stay at home whenever it rained hard as some classrooms were prone to flooding from the roof leaks and silt from inadequate run- off in the school grounds.

Staff said they had spent more than 10 years trying to get the Education Department to address the problems.

Although the school does get funds from Bhisho, it is not enough to cover the repairs.

School fencing was removed in 2012 and work was begun to replace it – but the job has still not been completed.

Provincial Heritage Association manager Mzikayise Zote said although the buildings were national monuments their maintenance was the responsibility of the Eastern Cape Education Department.

"The Education Department has a responsibility to maintain all schools they use."

He said an application had to be lodged with provincial heritage before renovations could be done.

Education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani yesterday said damaged school buildings had been assessed and details forwarded to head office for consideration of an intervention. - David Macgregor