By OBAKENG MAJE
Teaching and learning was affected at the embattled Nthapelang Primary School in Matolong village, near Taung on Tuesday. Learners and teachers were turned away by irked parents and School Governing Body (SGB) members, who are demanding mobile classrooms.
In January 2024, Taung DailyNews exposed that the school principal allegedly turned toilets into classrooms due to overcrowding. This caused an outcry and resulted in the suspension of the principal by the department.
The SGB chairperson, Kgalalelo Kgamanyane said they also want the department to do away with the multi-grade system at the school. Kgamanyane alleged that the department never informed them that the school will be a multi-grade.
“Since the department promised to bring mobile classrooms to the school. However, nothing has materialised until today. So, we are disappointed because it seems the department does not take our plea seriously.
“We also do not understand what does it mean when the school is using a multi-grade system. There is no policy nor any document in place that explains what a multi-grade system is,” she said.
Buoyed Kgamanyane further said, no teaching and learning will take place until their challenges are addressed. She added that there is also a shortage of teachers at the school.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Mphata Molokwane refuted allegations that they once promised to deliver mobile classrooms at the school. Molokwane urged the SGB members to refrain from closing the school as they are part of the school management.
“Instead, they should guide parents in the right path. It should be noted that the department has never committed to sending mobile classrooms to the school. The community and parents should note that multi-grade school is when more than one Grade is taught in a classroom.
“Through multi-grade education, this enables learners to work alone or collaboratively toward the curriculum objectives of the individual Grade levels. Teachers benefit from multi-grade teaching because it gives them greater freedom to be innovative and adaptable in their teaching approach,” he said.
Molokwane said that teachers can also establish an engaging learning environment and present a range of teaching strategies. He said it is less expensive than establishing separate classrooms for each grade level or paying more teachers.
“When staffing schools in isolated or rural locations with little funding, it is also more effective. So the school would not have any extra staff,” said Molokwane.
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