The situation has forced some schools to accommodate as many as 50 students per class especially in secondary schools. Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, revealed the state of affairs earlier this week when answering a question before Parliament. Maun West Member of Parliament (MP), Caterpillar Hikuama, had asked the ministry’s position regarding the establishment register in public schools. He had also wanted to know if the ministry was ready to redefine and give direction on class size in public schools and student/teacher ratio in both primary and secondary schools. Responding to his questions, the minister stated that according to the Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE), the recommended class size is 30 learners per class but, it should be noted that currently it is not possible to apply this recommendation because of very limited academic space in public schools. “It is a policy that ‘all children have the right to education’. This dictates that my ministry finds itself in a difficult position of having to increase class size to 35-40 students especially at primary school and up to 50 learners at secondary school. I believe that the reviewing of the establishment register and building of new schools will address the issue,” she said.
Kgafela-Mokoka also said in schools that have serious shortages of infrastructure they have introduced double shift but even with double shift it is proving difficult to maintain the class size of 30. In the past, teachers and parents had raised concerns over the impact of overcrowding on learning quality, citing reduced teacher-student interaction, increased workload for teachers and difficult in maintaining discipline. Parents continue to express frustration, fearing that their children’s education is being compromised pleading for urgent intervention. They raised a concern that in some cases, students have to literally sit on the floor during lessons due to shortage of desks and chairs. As the government grapples with the crisis, there have been alternatives such as introducing shift systems, students being taught outdoors under trees which compromise learners’ quality of education. The education ministry remains under pressure to strike a balance between accessibility and quality education for all.
