New year, old problems as schools re-open

Unresolved problems, vandalism, overcrowding and late admissions are some of the challenges facing public schools in Gauteng, Limpopo, the North West, Mpumalanga and the Free State as they prepare to re-open today. 

But national department of basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said they were confident that schools were ready to accept pupils.

Teachers were at school two days prior to prepare for the intake, he said.

The department expected overcrowding in some areas, but mobile classrooms would be provided where they were needed. Schools would get 10 days to resolve late admissions so that classroom time was not interrupted, he said.

Burt Ronald, from education advocacy group Tomorrow’s Leaders in Training (TLT), said problems that troubled public schools, such as a shortage of teachers and overcrowded classrooms, remained unresolved from previous years.  

“We already have overcrowded classrooms and if we have a shortage of teachers, what do those classrooms look like especially in our under-resourced communities?,” Ronald asked.

“I think we are as ready as can be but there are a lot of crises bubbling under the surface. If we don’t find solutions quickly it can be very daunting, especially for public and under-resourced schools.”

National Association of School Governing Bodies general secretary Matakanye Matakanya said poor planning was behind some of the major problems schools faced.

Matakanya said schools were reopening because that was the normal expectation, but there were a lot of unresolved problems in rural and township schools.

“The department’s policy is that teaching must happen from the first day of reopening but how will this policy be honoured when offices are filled with parents who are admitting their children late?”

Matakanya said poor infrastructure was also a big problem, adding that some pupils would come back to broken windows and furniture shortages.

The Gauteng education department reported that 120 schools were vandalised in 2022, and 24 of those were damaged during the December holidays.

Limpopo spokesperson Mike Maringa said they were ready to re-open schools.

However, they were overwhelmed by a high number of parents still looking to have their children placed in a number of circuits including the Pietersburg circuit in Polokwane and Ellisras in Lephalale.  

Maringa said the department would first prioritise applications received between May and the end of July 2022 for grades R, 1 and 8 pupils, while other grades would be assisted between Thursday and Friday.

“All the other learners who are yet to be placed due to various reasons, ranging from relocation of parents, late application and school of choice amongst others, will be assisted from Monday next week,” he said.

The department also said it was looking into allegations of no-fee schools around the Malamulele area withholding stationery from pupils whose parents had not paid funds meant to cater for cleaners and security.

“No learner must be denied stationery regardless of what the school governing body (SGB) has decided. We will ask the district director to attend to the matter,” Maringa said.

Malamulele High School SGB chairperson Tinyiko Chauke admitted that they had asked parents to contribute the money but denied that stationery was withheld.

But frustrated parents told Sowetan that they were turned away and only those who could produce proof of payment were given stationery.