Thaba ‘Nchu school hit by tornado should be declared a national disaster, says Educational expert

Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has called on the government to declare the marking centre that was hit by a tornado in the Free State province, a national disaster.

“The Department of Basic Education should collaborate with the National Disaster Management Centre and provide more information about the various learner scripts that were affected at the marking centre.

Makaneta said the results at one centre would affect the entire national average.

“It is for this reason that the entire process of verification and approval of marks will be greatly affected by the unfortunate situation that occurred in the Free State.

In terms of Chapter 1(a)(ii) of the National Disaster Management Act No. 57 of 2002, the marking centre in the Free State province must be declared a disaster because of damage to property and infrastructure,” he said

“Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga should come up with a clearly defined way forward, considering that some of the scripts may have been damaged or lost in the process which already gives indications that the matric results will not be fair.”

Albert Moroko High School, situated in Thaba ‘Nchu was used as a matric marking centre for accounting paper 2 and business studies paper 2, when roof of the marking centre was blown off by the storm.

A marker was slightly injured.