On an oversight visit to Limpopo schools to assess their readiness for the 2024 academic year, a delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education led by Ms Nombuyiselo Adoons said it is impressed by the smooth start to the year in the province.
The committee delegation began the two-day visit in the Vhembe East education district, a high-performing district in terms of matric results, with visits to three schools – Mbilwi Secondary School, Tshilidzini Special School and Tshakhuma Primary School. It was supposed to visit a fourth school but arrived at the school late and found only the principal there.
At Mbilwi Secondary School, a Mathematics and Science-focused school, the committee heard that prior to Covid-19 the school achieved a 100% pass rate but it has not managed to achieve similar results since then. Ms Adoons said the school suffers from overcrowding. “It has a serious challenge because many parents across the province want their children to attend because of its good track record.” She explained that the challenge is that the community does not understand the school’s admission policy, which stipulates that the school must only take high achievers and those learners who have the capacity or the potential to achieve in Mathematics and Physical Science, as it is a focused school. Despite this, the school is doing well and all systems are in place, she said.
At Tshilidzini Special School, the delegation found that the primary school caters for 215 learners, 37 educators and 60 assistants. They make provision for three types of special needs learners – blind, deaf and physically impaired. At this school, the committee discovered that the school requires support with the compilation of psychological reports from the local hospital, which are required for learners to progress to higher grades in special schools at secondary level. The school also needs support to ensure that it has nurses on staff to be with learners all the time. They are also short of house mothers to take care of the learners in the hostels. Two deputy principals are 100% blind and need assistance to with their work.
Tshakhuma Primary School, a junior primary school that has been in business for over 118 years and caters to students from Grade R to 4, has 220 learners but these numbers have been declining over the past five years. The school asked for the municipality to assist by providing a speed hump in the road outside the school and to upgrade its kitchen. Despite the challenges, the school is doing well and had a 100% pass rate across all grades, said Ms Adoons.
Ms Adoons explained that the delegation could unfortunately not visit Miriyavhavha Technical Secondary School as it arrived very late at the school. “We did not have an opportunity to interact with the school. By the time we arrived, everyone had already left, except for the principal. The challenge being the long distance we had to travel from school three to the last school. We apologise profusely to the principal and the school community for not having the opportunity to interact,” she said.
“So far, I can confirm that the school readiness in the district, one of the best performing districts, is on par. Everything was confirmed from LTSM [learner, teacher support material], admissions – even though some had challenges of overcrowding. Learners have received their learning material in the special school.
“We are happy by what we have seen on the ground. We are also impressed by the cleanliness at the schools. The delegation must commend the school communities for taking charge and pride in making sure our learners are educated in an environment that makes them want to learn. School governing bodies are very involved at the schools and their functioning,” said Ms Adorns.
Rajaa Azzakani
23 January 2024
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