Kopano Remains Focused Despite BCL Demise

Granger said this after the school’s open day on Friday. Kopano was founded in 1972 to provide education for the children of BCL Mine employees. It was transformed into a private school in 2002. BCL used to cover the cost of students whose parents worked at the mine, but since the closure, most of the parents have been taking their children from the school citing lack of money to pay school fees. She explained that the mine used to pay full school fees at the beginning of every term, which enabled the school to meet its financial obligations. She said now it is different because some parents are failing to pay school fees on time. 

She said to address the problem they have decided to come up with a new payment plan. The school’s enrollment stood at 490 when the mine was fully operational, but has since dropped to 283. Granger said as a result they were forced to lay off about eight staff members who were nearing retirement and those whose contracts were coming to an end.