Overcrowding at Kagiso exposes students to diseases
Leitshupile Thomas | Tuesday July 15, 2014 12:58
Assistant Minister, Patrick Masimolole yesterday told Parliament that although the hostel rooms have a maximum holding capacity of 14 students, the rooms currently house 20 students per room on average.
“The average room size is eight metres by five metres giving it a holding capacity of a maximum of 14 students,” Masimolole said.
Currently 349 students live in the hostels, being 110 males and 109 females Form Four students as well as 51 males and 79 females Form Five students, Masimolole said. He was responding to a question from South East South MP, Odirile Motlhale who wanted to know the total number of students residing at Kagiso Senior Secondary School hostels. Upon further questioning by other legislators, Masimolole admitted that the students could be affected by contagious diseases and said he has appealed to the affected to seek alternatives.
Contagious diseases such as the flu, colds, or strep throat spread from person to person in several ways. One way is through direct physical contact, like touching or kissing a person who has the infection. Another way is when an infectious microbe travels through the air after someone nearby sneezes or coughs.
Masimolole told Parliament that the ministry has advised parents that those who can afford to find accommodation outside school should do so to reduce overcrowding at the hostels.