A local councillor in the North West, Oratile Segosapelo, is concerned about the utilisation of newly constructed bathrooms and a makeshift building as classrooms at Nthapelang Primary School in Matolong village, near Taung.
This is reportedly due to severe overcrowding at the school.
Parents have voiced their discontent, deeming it unacceptable for their children to attend classes in such conditions.
It’s believed that when the principal heard about an SABC investigative journalist’s impending visit to the school he placed the learners in permanent classes with learners from other grades.
Segosapelo says, “When I was here the other day, I found learners attending lessons in a toilet. I also found learners in a shack, and now I am surprised today that when we got here, chairs had been removed, and those teachers were no longer there. Now, this means learners are overcrowded in these classrooms.”
Numerous North West schools facing dire infrastructure challenges
These dire infrastructure challenges at Nthapelang Primary School further emphasised findings from a recent report by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
The inquiry into school infrastructure found that the provincial education department had failed to ensure the provision of safe and adequate infrastructure at many schools. The report highlighted issues such as the continued use of asbestos structures, pit latrines, and challenges with water and electricity supply.
The final report was released last month, revealing serious inadequacies in school infrastructure, including dilapidated classrooms with collapsed ceilings and roofs, leaking roofs, and cracked walls and floors.
Back to School | Overcrowding, poor infrastructure challenges
