Rustenburg – There was no problem at Mphe-Bana High School at Reagile in Koster, North West Education MEC Maphefo Matsemela said on Friday.
“There is no problem at Mphe-Bana, the only classes which experienced overcrowding were in Grade 10, but the rest of the other grades did not have any problems. The new mobile classes will accommodate the Grade 10 learners,” she said.
It was earlier reported that the school had the capacity to enroll 650 pupils, but this year its roll call stood at 1,690.
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education and Sports Development, Arts, Culture and Traditional affairs on Thursday, expressed shock and disappointment at the state of Mphe-Bana.
The committee visited the school after media reports highlighted challenges of overcrowding, a severe shortage of furniture for learners, dysfunctional toilets and security issues.
Chairperson of the committee, Boitumelo Moiloa said the school was in serious crisis and needed immediate intervention from the department.
The committee said the department needed to come up with measurable long-term solutions that addressed the current challenges of the school, including the shortage of critical positions of the two deputy principals.
“We are happy with efforts of the school management even though they are working under these dire circumstances,” Moiloa said. “The school has done well on matric results by acquiring 85,96 percent in 2015.”
Matsemela said teaching and learning resumed on January 26, after additional chairs and tables had been delivered.
“During the reopening of schools, Mphe-Bana experienced a high influx of learners who came from the two local primary schools. The secondary school admitted learners beyond its capacity, classrooms and the school furniture could not be enough to cater for all the learners,” she explained.
Matsemela further indicated that the school had a full complement of teachers according to the departmental provisioning model.
“The school needed eight mobile classrooms and so far two mobile classrooms were delivered on Monday, with the remainder to be delivered during the month of February.”
Regarding rest rooms at the school, a plumber was on site to fix broken or leaking toilets, while the department had also arranged ten portable toilets to cater for the high number of pupils.
African News Agency
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