Relief for crowded North West schools

Cape Town - 120524 - ACJ Phakade Primary School, where scholars had no desks or chairs and were sitting on the classroom floor, received dozens of new desks and chairs for learners. Reporter: Lynnette Johns Photographer: David Ritchie

Cape Town - 120524 - ACJ Phakade Primary School, where scholars had no desks or chairs and were sitting on the classroom floor, received dozens of new desks and chairs for learners. Reporter: Lynnette Johns Photographer: David Ritchie

Published Feb 22, 2016

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Rustenburg – The North West department of education has procured 60 mobile classrooms to alleviate the problem of overcrowding in schools, the department said on Monday.

“This highest priority will be given to schools that are overly overcrowded such as Mphe-Bana Secondary School in Reagile near Koster and Noto Secondary school at Kopela,” said spokesperson Elias Malindi.

“The department strives for high learner achievement and that cannot be attained if teaching and learning is disrupted by overcrowded classrooms,” he said.

Mphe-Bana made headlines in January, when it was reported that the school was overcrowded to such an extent that one classroom had 133 pupils. There were not enough chairs and tables.

The school had enrolled 1 690 pupils while it had the capacity to enroll only 650 pupils.

North West Education MEC Maphefo Matsemela said she was optimistic about the delivery of these mobile classroom.

“During the reopening of schools in the 2016 academic year, we experienced a problem of massive overcrowding in different areas and the department was prompted to procure 60 mobile classrooms immediately. After these classrooms have been delivered the department has also procured 250 more classrooms. We therefore plead with the community to please bear with us as the delivery of the classrooms is a lengthy process,” Matsemla said.

The mobile classrooms would be delivered to schools in the province’s four districts.

African News Agency

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