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WENDY MOTHATA |
ALTHOUGH many people have welcomed the return of full-time learning of learners, teachers’ organisations are calling the government to deal with the issue of overcrowded classrooms.
Learners across the country resumed with daily learning at various schools.
The move comes after Cabinet approved changes to the Adjusted Alert Level 1 COVID-19 regulations.
Cabinet decided to end rotational learning and remove social distancing measures.
The Department of Basic Education Spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga visited some of the schools on Monday to check the state of readiness.
Mhlanga acknowledged that there are some challenges that schools are facing, and these include the issue of overcrowded classroom.
“We saw that some schools experienced high number of learners who have come through. And there is no space to accommodate them,”said Mhlanga.
The spokesperson said the department is making plans to accommodate all learners in making sure that they all learn on the same day.
“And now plans are being made to change the timetable to allow for a platinum timetable which will ensure that all the learners get to learn on the same day. But we also saw in other parts of the province (Gauteng) that there are some schools which did not have enough furniture so they are waiting. Some learners don’t have what they need to continue with education.”
Mhlanga said that the majority of schools were able to commence with learning.
“The majority of the schools have been able to commence with learning. We went to schools where teaching and learning is taking place and it’s all quiet and things are going on as normal. So, it’s not the same scenario everywhere, in some instances were planning did not happen as expected there still some challenges that needs to be sorted out but we have given them until this week to resolve all those outstanding issues.”
With all the challenges facing the schools, Western Cape Provincial Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer said that the Western Cape government is providing support to teachers and learners.
Schäfer acknowledged that some schools will be overcrowded, however, they will monitor those cases individually.
Meanwhile, the National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) has welcomed the DBE’s announcement to have learners attending daily.
“NAPTOSA welcomes the final decision by the minister Angie Motshekga that all learners must return to school today. As a union, we have been very vocal about learners returning to school this year,” said NAPTOSA’s Thirona Moodley.
However, the union’s Executive Director Basil Manuel said that Department of Basic Education must address the overcrowded classrooms.
“The return to normal learning has put old challenges back into sharp focus, including inadequate school infrastructure and overcrowding.”
South African Democratic Teachers Union’s (SADTU) Head of Secretariat, Xolani Fakude said that it welcomes the full-time teaching and learning at schools. The union said that poor infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms are still an issue in the education system.
“We are experiencing challenges which are pre-COVID and these challenges relates to poor infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms.
Bokamoso Secondary School in Seshego Zone 2, is one of the schools struggling with overcrowded classroom.”
School Principal, Titus Setlau said that full-time learning will help teachers to keep up with the curriculum as opposed to two years back when rotational learning was implemented.
“For us as teachers it helps to keep the curriculum going because if they all come to school it is easy for us to continue with the curriculum as it should. Unlike last year where we had to cut out some of the things due to rotational learning,” Setlau said.
–Inside Education