Gauteng learners and teachers endure overcrowded classrooms

Gauteng learners and teachers are expected to lose out on valuable learning and teaching time because of overcrowded classrooms due to no budget for building new schools, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province is convinced.

DA WORRIED ABOUT GAUTENG LEARNERS AND TEACHERS IN OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS IN 2024

Khume Ramulifho MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, said as a result, schooling will not be conducive where new schools are most needed.

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“This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, during a Portfolio Committee meeting on Education this week.”Ramulifho

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He said the Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned because there are many abandoned school projects in the province.

“This trend is ongoing and costing taxpayers a lot of money,” he said.

The latest school to be abandoned is Semphato Secondary School in Soshanguve. This school was scheduled to be completed in March this year, but the service provider has abandoned the project, according to Ramulifho.

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SCHOOLS LYING VACANT IN THE PROVINCE

The following schools have also been abandoned:

• Mayibuye Primary School;
• Nanciefield Primary School;
• Laerskool Frikie Meyer;
• Ahanang Primary School;
• Hillcrest Primary School;
• Thubelihle Primary School;
• LG Holele Secondary School;
• Ruster Vaal Secondary School.

“The number of abandoned schools will create a huge burden on the placement of learners in 2024. This will be compounded by the department’s failure to build new schools in 2024.”Ramulifho

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GAUTENG LEARNERS FAILED BY GDE?

“The GDE has failed in its core mandate to provide access to quality basic education. Currently, there are schools where learners attend classes on a rotational basis because the department has failed to provide the necessary classrooms.

“The DA brought these issues to MEC Chiloane’s attention, but he is out of touch with how the department functions.
“There appears to be a new trend: projects are abandoned after spending more than 70% of the allocated budget. This is an opportunity for looters to reward the same projects to other connected service providers,” Ramulifho outlined.

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In conclusion, he said the DA will continue to put pressure on the MEC to ensure that all abandoned schools are fixed and utilised for learning and teaching.