BONUS - RUSTENBURG - The Chief Whip of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Paul Sebegoe on Wednesday attributed worsening overcrowding at schools around Rustenburg to migration and urbanization within mining communities.
Sebegoe made this observation after being part of elected public representatives deployed across the province to monitor schools reopening readiness programme on the first day of the 2024 academic year.
“Although the Provincial Basic Education Department is annually grappling with this phenomenon through revision of the post-provision model in order to allocate more educators, the high demand for enrolment is making it difficult for schools in the area to cope with the avalanche which does not seem to abate,” mentioned Sebegoe.
He stressed that urgent intervention is required to address overcrowding at Meriti Secondary School which has currently registered 1729 learners with extreme pressure at Grades 8,9 and 10. ” We have therefore escalated the pressing need for six mobile classrooms and extra furniture to be provided as an interim solution as the school only has the capacity to accommodate 1200 learners,” he stressed.
Sebegoe however commended educators at the school for their dedication as teaching commenced on the first day of the academic year in the less congested matric classes and at Tsholofelo Technical Secondary School in Boitekong. He appealed to mining houses and the business sector to, as part of their Corporate Social Investments (CSI including Social Labour Plans (SLP’s) contribute towards infrastructure development & recreational facilities within mining communities and labour sending areas. “We are encouraged that some have embraced their responsibility and are partnering with schools, municipalities and provincial government departments in various community development ventures,” he underscored. Sebegoe further urged communities to play also their part by protecting schools against vandalism and destruction of school infrastructure
