POLOKWANE - Schools in parts of north-east Limpopo remain closed following heavy rainfall that has affected the area for over a week.
The provincial Education Department has been placed on high alert.
MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya says the department has been closely monitoring the situation, particularly in areas that were affected by flooding in January, and has maintained communication with the South African Weather Service.
READ: Disaster teams deployed as floods batter Limpopo, Mpumalanga
The department initially issued a warning on Friday, advising schools to suspend extra classes over the weekend.
These classes involved Grade 11 and 12 learners as part of the government’s catch-up programme.
However, the persistent rainfall has made roads increasingly dangerous to navigate.
“Learners at some of the affected schools rely on scholar transport, which is currently unable to operate due to the heavy rains,” said Lerule-Ramakhanya.
She has urged parents to remain vigilant and called on community members to notify school principals immediately if their routes to school become inaccessible.
READ: R7,9 billion needed to fix roads and infrastructure in Limpopo
The department has been implementing recovery strategies in areas impacted by the January floods.
“There are serious setbacks,” Lerule-Ramakhanya added.
The Department has also been unable to bring in mobile classrooms, as the soil quality in some areas is still uncertain.
“This means that some classes will remain overcrowded,” she said.
To address the disruption of learning, the MEC says the department has established a task team to develop a comprehensive catch-up strategy, which may include learning camps and online programmes for all affected schools.