CAPE TOWN - Returning to full-time learning meant a return to worse than ever crammed classrooms for some schools in the Western Cape.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said on Monday it was still collating information from the eight districts to determine which schools cannot return to full capacity for reasons relating to capacity and classroom shortages.
While the department expressed relief that on Monday pupils went back to class on a full-time basis, it also stated three schools remained on the rotation system.
“No reported disruptions at schools. Teaching and learning continued at all schools despite significant changes in their timetables at the majority of our schools. Three schools have reported that they cannot bring back all learners due to infrastructure damage and therefore a shortage of classrooms as a result of fire damage in one primary school and vandalism of two high schools.
“Repairs are required to the classrooms and they have requested to continue with rotation for the interim which is being considered,” said WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond.
She said the department was yet to place 172 Grade 1 pupils and 719 Grade 8s who applied in 2021 for 2022.
There are also many children who did not apply and are awaiting placements.
“The WCED is still receiving walk-ins every day,” said Hammond.
ANC MPL Andile Lili who visited Enkanini Primary School in Khayelitsha said: “It seems schools are experiencing more overcrowding this academic year compared to last year. In Enkanini some classrooms have 70 learners. There are also many unplaced learners who are on the waiting list and the school has no idea where it will place them. Most affected classrooms are Grade 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7.”
Masibambane Secondary School and Bloekombos Primary School are also experiencing the same overcrowded issue.
ANC provincial spokesperson for education Khalid Sayed said it was not shocking that certain schools have requested a waiver to continue with a rotational timetable due to infrastructure challenges and class sizes.
“The complacency of the WCED is to blame for many challenges experienced in schools today. There is no reason why the department is only collating information of schools that cannot return full time today. This should have been done last week already,” said Sayed.
Cape Times