Tashatha CJSS Flooded, Exams Rescheduled

By Uyapo Kgosi
Correspondent | Monday March 17, 2008 00:00

An assembly for day students was organised outside the school where they were briefed about the state of affairs before they were sent home. This follows torrential rains on Friday. 

The school deputy head, Ofetotswe Tina, says the situation created by the floods is the worst ever.

'The flood affected us badly. And you have just come at a time when the water has just receded,' he said. The heavy down pours have affected teachers, as water entered their houses in large quantities and at the same time causing damage to their property. 

Fourteen teachers fell victim to the rains. 'We were able to move their property to the business lab. As to the school property, I can confirm that there is nothing that has been destroyed'. 

'At the school gate no one could pass as the water was too much, therefore, we sent students home,' said Tina. 

A multitude of day students had gathered at the gate dumbfounded as to what was happening. 'Only cars were able to cross over. And some of the teaching staff residing outside the school were ferried in cars, and we have not received any report of casualties concerning our students. The situation lasted from 6.30am to 8am,' he said.  He added that the situation has affected his school as students are currently writing their end of term exams.

According to Tina, exams will resume this coming Monday. Kesaitse Gaborekwe (16), a female day student at the school said: 'What has happened is a drawback as we were supposed to write our end of term exams, to which some of us have thoroughly prepared for.'

One of the affected teachers, Patrick Mogomotsi, said when it started raining at around 3am, he was watching television. He said he went to bed late only to wake up early in the morning to find his house awash with water measuring 50 cm against the wall. He added: 'It destroyed my home theatre, soaked my couch, and my bed was also wet underneath'.

Later the police and the soldiers came to move staff to the business lab for safety.