The lack of furniture, broken and worn-out furniture, outdated equipment for technical schools and overcrowding at some schools featured on the second day of the oversight visit of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to two education districts in Limpopo Province.
The committee visited Grace and Hope Special School in the Capricorn Education District. The committee found the living conditions in the hostels not up to scratch as furniture was either broken or not existing at all, and matrasses for learners were extremely thin. The school has 476 learners, of which 245 are boarders and 231 are day learners. The committee was informed that the hostels were not sufficient to accommodate the learners and they needed to be upgraded.
The school governing body also informed the committee that due to lack of transport, parents at the school raised money in order to purchase a bus to provide scholar transport. During the meeting with all the stakeholders, committee Chairperson, Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, said: “It is clear that there is a communication gap or breakdown in this area between the different officials. This has led to the school not receiving the necessary support, and grants that were needed by our special needs learners. It is not for our own interest. It is for the children who can’t speak for themselves.”
The school also has a shortage of specialist staff, such as an occupational therapist, speech therapist and hostel staff. Committee member, Ms Marie Sukers, appealed to the authorities to assist and employ the full-time services of a social worker as well, as the school currently relied on the ad hoc services of a retired social worker.
The committee has been visiting schools in the province to assess their readiness for the 2020 academic year. It also looked into general schooling at those schools and the latest lower National Senior Certificate results.
Earlier in the day the committee visited Tom Naude Technical School. The committee commended the school management team for the work they do with learners despite outdated technical equipment, machinery and apparatus. Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba said: “We applaud the school for the initiative to bring business on board to donate equipment. However, we are concerned that the pass rate has been dropping over the last few years. This is not what is expected at a quintile 5 school.”
The committee noted concerns from the school about difficulties in trying to find qualified and competent technical educators. The committee was informed that although artisans are qualified to help learners in the workshops, they are not qualified to teach. Some educators with the necessary qualifications, do not have enough experience in the workshop. Another committee member, Ms Nombuyiselo Adoons, said: “The fact that artisans are capable but cannot teach is clearly a gap that needs the urgent attention of education authorities.”
At Sepheu Moleke Secondary School the question of overcrowding came up again. The committee heard that the Grade 12 class has 82 learners and in Grade 8 the class has 80 learners. Committee member, Mr Thlologelo Malatji, said the normal ratio of learners to teacher in the country is 35:1 and wanted to know how the school was allowing such overcrowding. Despite having this challenge over the years, the school has been performing well in mathematics and physical science and was commended for this by the committee.
By Rajaa Azzakani
5 February 2020
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