Roodepoort — The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is confident that they can handle the pressure of overcrowding in schools considering the number of pupils increased by 2,2 per cent from 2013.
With the GDE’s back-to-school campaign, having been a very effective marketing strategy and to come to an end soon, few would have predicted it ultimately would have a massive impact.
According to the GDE’s 10-day head count, a total of 195 756 Grade 1s and 142 763 Grade 8 pupils were welcomed into the system in 2014, which is a 2,2 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
The majority of these pupils were placed by October 2013, with over 20 000 late applications processed and placements done in January 2014. There is still a trickle of new applications received and these are being dealt with case by case.
Although the situation is not out of control, the MEC for Education, Barbara Creecy expressed some concern but at the same time was confident that there is nothing they cannot handle.
“We are pleased that in spite of the increase in pupils numbers, our school building programme has allowed for a decrease in average classroom sizes. In 2014 we have an average pupil ratio of 37 pupils in classrooms at primary schools and 35 at secondary school.
“We, however, do remain concerned with overcrowding at some schools,” Creecy said.
The Department opened 17 new schools and 16 more will be opened in April to deal with the growing demand of space in Gauteng. An additional 164 emergency classrooms and 40 toilets will be delivered to schools across the province to deal with the growth.
In view of the growing number in the system, the Department currently is conducting an audit in all provincial schools to check on the need for additional Learner Teacher Support Martial (LTSM).
Where a need is identified, a Rapid Response Team is sent to the school to provide LTSM top ups.
Creecy added, “The Department is in the process of concluding its 2014 back-to-school campaign, which is centred on ensuring that teaching and learning began in earnest in all Gauteng schools on the first day of the academic year.
“We are very pleased that significant progress has been made in finalising enrolments and other logistics that go with the schools reopening.
“Upon finalisation of this process the Department will look at resource allocation in relation to the number of pupils in Gauteng schools.”
In terms of academic preparedness, all Gauteng schools are being provided with the necessary support to ensure implementation of the curriculum. Special attention has been given to the Caps Implementing Grades, that is, Grades 7, 8, 9 and 12. Orientation sessions were held across the province for educators entering the system for the first time.
Curriculum packages were prepared and distributed to all new schools.
Since January this year the Department has deployed a total of 6 175 scholar patrollers in Gauteng schools. The schools are also linked to police stations that are in close proximity.
Creecy concluded by saying that, “We are pleased that the Department has done well in its preparations for the new academic year, but we remain concerned about parents who ignore the official admissions period.
“There are still parents who are bringing children as late as mid-February without any compelling reason.”
