{
  "id": 6152739,
  "title": "NW Education assessing damages caused by strong winds to schools",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/nw-education-assessing-damages-caused-by-strong-winds-to-schools",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T17:01:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/nw-education-dept-assessing-schools-damage-caused-by-strong-winds/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The North-West Department of Education is currently evaluating the damage sustained by several schools due to powerful winds over the weekend. These severe weather conditions have resulted in significant destruction, including damaged roofs and the loss of mobile classrooms. The department reports that more than 20 schools have been impacted thus far.\n\nRefentse Secondary School in Delareyville is among the schools that have suffered severe damage. This school is currently utilizing a temporary structure. Grade 8 learners were unable to attend classes after their mobile classrooms were destroyed by the strong winds on Friday night. Basiami Mosiako, a chairperson of the School Governing Body (SGB), expressed deep concern over the extent of the damage. \"It happened on Friday at about 19h30 in the evening, while the matric learners were at a matric camp with their teachers and a member of the SGB. The learners were scared, and even us, as parents, are scared. The school is badly damaged. The roofs were blown into the air and displaced everywhere. It was a very hurtful sight to see,\" Mosiako stated.\n\nNorth-West Education authorities acknowledge that the damage to schools is placing additional strain on already overburdened infrastructure. Dr Elias Malindi, a spokesperson for the department, explained, \"The MEC for Education Dr Desbo Mohono expressed deep concern over the extensive damage caused by the strong winds at schools across the North West. The department will dispatch its infrastructure teams to assess the extent of the damage and determine alternative measures to ensure that teaching and learning is not disrupted at the affected schools.\"",
  "summary": "Concern has been expressed about the damage to schools and impact on learning.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Over 300,000 candidates chose Category A schools despite 76,417 vacancies – Education Ministry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/over-300-000-candidates-chose-category-a-schools-despite-76-417",
        "published": "2026-09-07T14:27:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}