Piet Retief celebrates new R700 million boarding school for rural learners

Piet Retief is buzzing with excitement as a state-of-the-art boarding school officially opens to learners from some of Mpumalanga’s most disadvantaged communities. Costing more than R700 million to build, the no-fee facility is set to change the face of rural education in the region.

The sprawling campus is anything but ordinary. It houses 32 modern classrooms, a fully equipped science laboratory, a computer lab, and even a recreational centre for learners to unwind after classes. The school, which also provides boarding facilities, has space for over 400 primary school pupils — including Grade R learners — who now have access to resources previously out of reach in many rural communities.

Bridging the rural education gap

The school is the sixth of its kind in the province, part of a broader push by the Mpumalanga government to address challenges faced by small and multi-grade schools. For many rural children, long travel distances, limited access to specialised teachers, and poor infrastructure have made learning an uphill battle.

Boarding facilities mean that learners no longer have to walk kilometres to reach class, allowing them to focus on their studies and participate in extracurricular activities without the daily strain of commuting.

Hope for a brighter future

Provincial officials say the project’s aim is simple — to give children from rural areas and those living below the breadline the same quality of education that learners in more urban areas enjoy. With dedicated teachers, modern learning tools, and a safe environment, the school is expected to be a catalyst for academic excellence in the area.

Community pride and social media buzz

Local residents have taken to social media to share their excitement, with many praising the government for investing in rural education. “This is what our children deserve,” one Facebook user commented. Others have expressed hope that such projects will spread across Mpumalanga and beyond, saying quality education is key to breaking cycles of poverty.

For Piet Retief, the new boarding school is more than just a building — it’s a statement of belief in the potential of rural learners and a promise that their dreams matter as much as anyone else’s.

Source:Sabc News

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