KwaZulu-Natal - KwaZulu-Natal schools were overcrowded, with more than 90 pupils in some classes, The Witness reported on Monday.
Education MEC Senzo Mchunu said in a reply to a question in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature that R2.4 billion would be spent on upgrading infrastructure at schools.
Democratic Alliance MPP Tom Stokes said quality learning remained out of reach for many pupils, with 670 000 being taught in classes of more than 55.
The DA found 42 schools had more than 90 pupils per class. A total of 254 schools had an average size class above 60. In 934
schools the average class size was 55 and above. A total of 680 schools had more than 40 pupils per class.
Also 13 schools had no classrooms, affecting 2 134 pupils. There were schools that needed up to 18 classrooms to cope with overcrowding.
Stokes said with these conditions there would be little meaningful interaction between teachers and children.
“There can be little hope of expectation of a genuine increase in exam results and very little teaching can take place,” he was quoted as saying by The Witness.
Education head Dr Nkosinathi Sishi blamed migration from rural to urban areas for the overcrowding.
The department said it was trying to deal with the infrastructure backlog by upgrading and building new schools. - Sapa