Opposition parties call for more schools in Mpumalanga
The DA and EFF said the Mpumalanga Department of Education has to deal with overcrowding at schools.
The opposition parties in Mpumalanga, the EFF and the DA, believe there is a huge need for more schools in the province.
The EFF’s call comes after the Mpumalanga provincial chairperson, Collen Sedibe, had visited and conducted a site inspection at Nelspruit Primary School on Thursday January 12 where construction of 12 additional classrooms is currently under way and almost 90% complete.
“The construction of these classrooms comes after much pressure from the EFF, when we called on the Department of Education to build new schools altogether or to add more classrooms at schools that are located in highly populated towns and townships,” said Sedibe.
Nelspruit Primary School, just like many other government schools in towns, continues to receive more learners each year, which makes it impossible for teaching and learning to take place because of overcrowding.
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The DA’s spokesperson for education, MPL Jane Sithole, said in a media statement that the start of the 2023 academic year in the province has seen schools receive an overwhelming number of learners.
“The Department of Education’s reluctance to deal with overcrowding at schools has put teachers and principals under tremendous pressure. Even more concerning is that learning is being compromised. Over the years the department has opted to provide mobile classrooms to schools instead of building
proper ones,” Sithole said.
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“The DA will submit urgent questions to MEC Bonakele Majuba to urge him to expedite these projects and to make sure that mobile classrooms are provided where possible to ensure that all learners are catered for in the 2023 academic year,” she said.
