According to reports, students were transferred from a poultry house to a multipurpose hall for lessons due to lack of a conducive learning space. In an interview with the Tonota District Council chairperson, Neo Sefume, he said the school's classrooms and those of several other schools in the district need to be renovated because they are old. Sefume, who is also councillor for Tholodi ward, was one of the leaders who are vocal against children taught in a poultry facility during the previous administration. He stated that Tonota JSS now uses the school hall, which accommodates extra classrooms, instead of the poultry house. He was also worried that the alternative teaching area, which caters for two or more classes in one open area, can lead to interruptions during lessons. Sefume said a significant lack of classrooms is forcing students to learn in challenging situations. "We are working non-stop to find long-term solutions to ensure that students have access to appropriate classroom environments," he continued. He stated that plans are underway to build extra classes and offices for primary schools.
Additionally, Sefume pointed out the fact that the majority of the district's primary schools now use storerooms as teachers' offices. He said the absence of permanent structures means that the school continues to confront several difficulties, such as a shortage of the necessary supplies. Other challenges in schools include toilets, water, power disruptions, furniture and others. He hoped that the long-awaited building of permanent buildings will give the school the infrastructure it needs to house students appropriately and provide them with the learning environment they deserve. Sefume stated that in order to guarantee that every student has access to a secure and comfortable learning environment, additional resources and strategic planning are required. Classroom construction has been included in the NDP11, he said. He indicated that, the new administration will set a high priority on establishing a supportive learning environment for both instructors and students. Additionally, he stated that the district's schools continue to struggle with shortage of teachers.
He also stated that there is still a high teacher-to-student ratio in the nearby schools. He added that during consultative sessions on different occasions in Tonota, Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe and the relevant ministers acknowledged the concerns and pledged to address them accordingly. Sefume had previously told Mmegi that the teacher-student ratio was very high as one teacher taught about 60 students in a class, which he said compromised the quality of education. He said some of the classes were conducted at the school’s poultry house, which was contaminated, unhealthy and inappropriate. He further disclosed that the multi-purpose hall housed three different classes whereas it is not partitioned.
