“We Struggle When It Rains”: Limpopo Pupils Write Exams in Carport After Classrooms Declared Unsafe
- Hundreds of learners at Tshilogoni Secondary School have been left without classrooms after several buildings were declared structurally unsafe
- The closures followed a Department of Employment and Labour inspection that identified serious cracks and concerns about ageing asbestos roofing
- The Limpopo Department of Education has promised additional mobile classrooms while longer-term infrastructure solutions are being considered
- Briefly News spoke to teacher Emandie Naan, who shared insight into the challenges faced by educators working in disadvantaged communities and the emotional toll of trying to provide learners with a quality education despite limited resources
Nearly 1,000 learners at Tshilogoni Secondary School in Nzhelele, Limpopo, are writing examinations in an old carport and under trees after several classrooms were closed due to safety concerns. The closures followed an inspection by the Department of Employment and Labour on 26 May 2026, which identified significant structural problems, including substantial cracks in classroom buildings and concerns about deteriorating asbestos roofing sheets.
Source: Facebook
Infrastructure challenges disrupt examinations
As a result, multiple classroom blocks and the administration building were declared unsafe, leaving hundreds of learners without adequate teaching and examination facilities during a critical academic period. Established in 1983, Tshilogoni Secondary School serves 983 learners and has reportedly been seeking infrastructure assistance for years. According to the school's governing body, requests for additional classrooms date back to 2015, while applications for mobile classrooms were submitted in 2023. Only three second-hand mobile units were reportedly provided despite growing infrastructure needs.
Ground Up reported that school representatives say some temporary structures are also in poor condition, with reports of leaking roofs and limited working space for both educators and management staff. Asakundi Makhalimela, a Grade 12 learner at the school opened about about the situation and said:
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"The classroom blocks were closed just as we were preparing for our June exams. Writing in a shack and under trees is stressful, especially during the rainy season"
Source: Facebook
Education department promises intervention
The Limpopo Department of Education has confirmed that additional mobile classrooms will be provided as a temporary solution while longer-term plans are considered.
Department spokesperson Mike Maringa said some buildings may ultimately require demolition, subject to engineering assessments and approval processes. Officials indicated that at least 11 mobile classrooms are expected to be provided once the necessary approvals have been finalised, although timelines have not yet been confirmed.
The heartbreaking crisis at Tshilogoni Secondary School highlights a broader, systemic issue facing the Limpopo Department of Education regarding crumbling rural school infrastructure. According to the 2023 National Infrastructure Asset Management Plan report by the Department of Basic Education, Limpopo historically accounts for some of the highest numbers of public schools requiring urgent structural maintenance, roof replacements, and the eradication of illegal asbestos materials.
Naan told Briefly News that teachers in under-resourced schools often have to go above and beyond to provide learners with the basic resources they need to succeed.
"The fact that teachers in disadvantaged areas have to work 10 times harder than those teaching in affluent areas to provide the same level of education is usually what turns them away from the occupation altogether. At the end of the day, money is how you acquire resources for kids, whether it's simple but important resources like tables and chairs or things like smart boards. When children come from difficult or disadvantaged communities, they often arrive at school without basic necessities like pens, pencils and books. Sometimes these resources even come out of the teachers' own pockets to give learners the basic support they need to learn."
He explained that the challenges teachers face do not simply end when the school day is over, with many educators carrying the emotional and mental weight of their work home with them.
"Many people think teaching is like a 9-to-5 job where you clock out at the end of your shift, but you take a lot of what you experience and the extra work home with you. Teachers carry an additional emotional and mental strain because they deal with hundreds of students every day. Learners often see teachers as parental figures when they don't have that support at home, which can leave teachers wondering whether to take on that extra emotional baggage. Prolonged exposure to these situations, along with sleepless nights, unfair working conditions and a lack of respect, can severely affect teachers' mental, physical and emotional health."
Despite the difficulties, Naan said empathy and a genuine desire to see learners succeed are what continue to motivate many teachers to return to the classroom each day.
"Empathy is a big part of why they stay. Teachers are very underappreciated and underpaid, so continuing to be the modern-day superheroes comes from caring deeply about their students' wellbeing and making sure they learn and grow. Each child is different and needs a different type of help to ensure they grow into individuals who can contribute positively to other people's lives. Teachers want their learners to become better people and understand more about the world, so they can enter adulthood with good heads on their shoulders."
3 Other Briefly News stories about Limpopo schools
- Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has commented on Naledi Ya Meso Secondary School in Sekhukhune after all 15 matriculants failed their 2025 exams, resulting in a 0% pass rate.
- A Limpopo school was the only school in the country to record zero matric exam passes for the 2025 National Senior Certificate exam, sparking reactions on social media.
- A young woman’s video questioning an alleged 0% matric pass rate at a Limpopo school reignited national conversations about education inequality.
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Source: Briefly News
