Limited Access to Drinking Water Hinders Learning at St. Bosco Primary School in Liotloaneng

Limited access to clean drinking water is a major challenge for the 478 pupils of St. Bosco Primary School in Liotloaneng, Berea District. The school’s students are being forced to seek water from unprotected sources, which not only poses health risks but also disrupts their learning process. This issue was highlighted on Tuesday during the ongoing Berea District Disaster Management Team (DDMT) awareness campaign, which aims to educate the community about climate change and alert them to the predicted heavy rains for the coming months.

In her remarks during the campaign, St. Bosco Primary School Principal Mrs. Malefane expressed the urgency of the situation, noting that water is a basic necessity that every individual requires. She emphasized that the pupils at the school have no alternative but to risk their health by fetching water from unprotected sources, just to quench their thirst.

“Our school is one of the most unfortunate, where our pupils have no choice but to go to unprotected water sources,” Mrs. Malefane said. “Water is a basic need that one cannot live without, but here our children are at risk to satisfy this basic need.”

The school is located in a marginalized community that already lacks many essential services, making access to safe drinking water a critical issue. The lack of water has further worsened the community’s vulnerability, as children are exposed to waterborne diseases, which can lead to absenteeism, poor health, and ultimately a disruption to their education.

This challenge is not unique to the school but reflects broader issues facing the community, where water scarcity is contributing to a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. The situation also highlights the impact of climate change, which exacerbates water shortages and hinders efforts to improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations.

As the DDMT campaign continues, the focus remains on raising awareness about the climate change-related challenges, including the availability of water, and urging the community to adopt strategies for managing these challenges. Local leaders and organizations are working to highlight the importance of sustainable water practices and access to clean water, which are fundamental to the health and education of young learners in communities like Liotloaneng.

Efforts to address water scarcity in the area are ongoing, but more interventions are needed to ensure that pupils at St. Bosco Primary School and others in similar situations have access to safe drinking water and a conducive environment for learning.