Inadequate resources, coupled with a shortage of teaching staff, can be identified as two main contributors to the issue of overcrowding in South African schools.
Overcrowding has a dire effect on the quality of teaching and learning that takes place at these schools. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) addressed concerns around this ongoing problem in a Parliamentary response earlier last week.
Department Plans To Address Overcrowding
The DBE plans to address the issue of overcrowding through a Special Intervention Programme for Overcrowding in Schools (SIPOS), which was announced during a media statement in 2022. This programme was designed with the aim of supplying additional classrooms to affected schools, while keeping the expenses low.
These extra classrooms are to be built in a reduced time, through a strict direct transfer of funds by the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) to the schools, and self-built classrooms.
In normal instances, conventional methods of procurement and the appointment of service providers would be followed, but due to the high costs and lengthy process that this would involve, the Department has had to take an alternative route.
The Department is currently in the advanced stage of discussions with the National Treasury for funding.
While the DBE awaits a funding decision, they have implemented several short-term solutions. This includes supplying mobile classrooms to schools where overcrowding is a problem, as well as the establishment of satellite schools to accommodate unplaced learners.
Specialist rooms are also currently in use to reduce overcrowding until the self-built programme can begin.
Overcrowding Remains an Issue
The recommended learner to educator ratio is 30:1, however a large portion of teachers in our public schools are dealing with roughly 50 students at one time.
Overcrowding at some schools in the Eastern Cape is so severe that there are often up to 120 learners in one classroom. Due to a lack of furniture, students often have to share desks or sit on the floor. This has a disastrous impact on the quality of education these learners are able to receive.
Despite promises from the Department, these challenges are yet to be resolved.
Gauteng faces a similar issue, where an estimated 70% of schools in a township are overcrowded.This is also due to a lack of infrastructure and shortage of teaching staff, resulting in teaching having to be halted.
Parents raised their concerns with the Gauteng Education Department (GED), however they did not provide a solution.
While these plans have been in progress for months and South African learners continue to underperform, the Government needs to deal with this issue urgently in order to give learners a quality education that meets the international standard.
