Winter bites helpless students
Pini Bothoko | Thursday June 23, 2016 15:12
One of the schools hit by shortages of classrooms is Selepa Junior Secondary School (JSS), with about three classes attending their lessons in the open.
Parents are worried and fear that the problem may lead to low academic results because students are not taught in an environment conducive for learning. Parents also said this has the potential to demoralise teachers.
Quizzed about this problem, the regional director for operations in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) Galesengwe Mohube confirmed the shortage of classrooms in the majority of their schools in the region.
“I am not familiar with Selepa school’s situation but I can confirm that the majority of schools in the district are faced with classroom shortages,” said Mohube.
He said most of the affected schools are primary and junior secondary schools adding that some are using outdoor structures constructed by Parents Teachers Association (PTA) as classrooms.
Mohube is however, hopeful that a number of classrooms will be constructed this year in most schools under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) starting with the hardest hit schools.
“Selolwe and Gold Mine junior secondary schools’ classroom construction projects have started and in the long term all schools will be covered,” said Mohube.
He said both schools will have 12 classrooms and 12 staff houses constructed this financial year.
Mohube said some schools, where the situation is dire, have opted to use dining halls to accommodate two to three classes though they are inappropriate for learning. He said in some schools they have been allowing some lessons to be held in laboratories. Mohube said the shortage is usually visible in the morning during registrations but afterwards lessons are sorted accordingly in classrooms and the laboratories.
“We do not have any option but to settle for less because classroom shortage is a national crisis. We do understand that it’s winter season and learners get cold, but as the ministry we will strive to provide better structures to curb the freezing temperatures,” said Mohube. “Influx of people in the city is contributing to the increase of students in schools. Some 12-stream schools are now operating at 18-stream because of the situation,” said Mohube.
A parent to a form one student at Selepa JSS, Beauty Mooke expressed worry over the situation saying it might affect learners’ academic work following failure to concentrate in class due to freezing temperatures.
“My son is one of the children who attend lessons outside. It hurts me seeing him going to school every morning in freezing temperatures. I can’t wait for schools to be closed,” said Mooke.