By OBAKENG MAJE
23 January 2024- Overcrowded classrooms allegedly forced Nthapelang Primary School in Matolong village, near Taung to use toilets as classrooms. The startling revelations were uncovered during an oversight visit by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor, Oratile Segosapelo on Tuesday.
Segosapelo told Taung DailyNews that he embarked on school assessment after receiving a call from unhappy parents and teachers at the school due to inhumane acts, learners were subjected to. He said it was disheartening to see this still happening after 30 years of democracy.
“The situation has a harmful effect on both teachers and learners. Imagine, conducting teaching and learning in the toilets. How do you expect learners to concentrate? We are really doomed under this government and that should be brought to a grinding halt.
“It is uncalled for to see learners using toilets as classrooms. I think overcrowding might be one of the contributing factors because the teachers at the school alleged that it’s been years since they requested the department to provide them with two mobile classrooms,” he said.
Segosapelo urged the North West Department of Education to address this matter and ensure that those who are responsible are dealt with. He further said learners cannot be exposed to danger like that, because the situation will affect them in the long run.
“As EFF, we believe that a classroom should be comfortable and correlate to learning outcomes. It will also be difficult for educators to conduct teaching and learning in crowded classrooms, because learners were squashed into other classrooms after the principal realised that, we brought the media to expose these shenanigans,” said Segosapelo.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane said: “The department can confirm that the school is allocated five teachers as per the provisioning model of the department. Moreover, the school has an enrolment of 211 learners from Grade R-7. It should also be noted that the school has seven classrooms. The number of teachers is actually lesser than the number of classrooms.
“Meaning, as a Multi Grade Teaching School (MGTS), some closer Grades such as Grade R and 1, Grade 6 and 7 are combined. This has been happening for years due to a lesser number of teachers.”
Molokwane refuted that there is overcrowding at the school. However, he said the department will investigate if toilets were used as classrooms and whoever responsible for this inhumane act will be held accountable.
The Guardian 