The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has pledged to put pressure on the Department of Education until temporary mobile classrooms are delivered to a number of schools across the province as an interim measure to address chronic overcrowding.
The party visited a number of schools in the first week of the 2018 academic year and overcrowding was reported to be among the major challenges learners face. DA Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle indicated that the party had observed shocking levels of overcrowding where 200 to 250 learners share a classroom and added that adequate resources such as chairs and desks were also a concern.
“This unacceptable overcrowding contravenes the department’s learner-to-educator ratio which clearly states that no more than 40 learners per classroom is allowed. Fhetani Secondary School in Mutale has 200 to 250 learners sharing one classroom while Nkgopoleng Bakone Secondary School in Ga Matlala accommodates 110 learners in one classroom,” explained Smalle.
He went on stating that 90 learners at Derek Kobe Secondary in Lebowakgomo and 70 at Kopano High School also in Lebowakgomo share a classroom. The DA believes that there may be more schools that experience overcrowding especially in quintile one, two and three schools across the province, he said and reiterated that they were concerned that the department consistently ignores the 40:1 learner to educator ratio benchmark set by the national department.
He stressed that they would submit questions to the department for written response to determine the matric examination results of these schools for the past five years as the DA believes that severe overcrowding in classrooms seriously affects learner performance. By failing to provide adequate infrastructure and resources, the department is infringing on learners’ rights to dignity and access to education as enshrined in the Constitution, he explained.
Education Spokesperson, Sam Makondo indicated that the demand for certain schools is high more especially city schools and added that overcrowding is experienced in quintile four and five schools because these schools are in towns and reasons include parents migrating to towns and cities for better economic opportunities and work opportunities.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
