North West Legislature finds serious challenges in various schools in the province
The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education, Sports Arts and Culture visited various schools around the province to assess the schools’ readiness for 2014 and to check on the challenges these schools are facing.
A major challenge amongst those found, was the shortage of teachers due to the Post Provisioning Model (PPM) that the Department of Education uses to allocate teachers at schools and temporary teachers on major subjects such as Maths and Physical Science not retained for longer periods; lack of support from parents and different stakeholders and an increasing learner rolls but shortage of classrooms and other infrastructure.
Mafanele High School in Klipgat, the school had a 58,6% pass rate, the school’s principal, Mr T Moerane, blamed this to a shortage of Accounting and Business Economics teacher. “Our learners have been without an Accounting and Business Economics teacher since June up until they wrote their matric exams. We relied on university students doing the subjects and also the subject advisor to assist learners over weekends.
“The school qualifies for 10 educators according to PPM and the school are already has 14 educators and therefore we could not get the Accounting and Business Economics teacher,” said Mr Moerane.
Tong Comprehensive School in Ganyesa, the principal complained about lack of financial support for infrastructure maintenance. He said the teachers share toilets with learners and often forced to utilise pit toilets.
The school principal, Mr K Mmotsa said the 10% of the budget for maintenance and other expenses is not enough. “We cannot repair the whole ceiling of the school with the little budget we have. The school also pays Eskom high amounts for electricity which we feel is questionable,” said Mr Mmotsa. He said the school has nine temporary teachers for Maths, Physical Science and Accounting.
At Temoso Special School in Ganyesa, the Committee discovered that many challenges which were addressed on the previous visit have not been solved. The school still lacks infrastructure which includes classrooms, staff room, and necessary skilled personnel who deals with learner with special needs. The Principal, Ms K. Sephecolo said the school needs nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and teachers.
“We wrote to Kagisano-Molopo local municipality requesting a site so that we won’t have a problem when potential funders want to build us a proper school. The Department of Health and Department of Social Development, Women Children and People with Disabilities are also not supportive. “When we report cases of children with special needs within the community, the social workers and police do not assist us,” said Ms Sepecholo.
She said the school needs assistance with hostels because learners from poor families in the surrounding villages cannot afford transport.
Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Fenny Galaolwe said the Committee will meet with the Department of Education on how they can address the schools’ problems.
