MPS inspect farm school given second chance by Grant

TWO small Swartland farm schools have 135 pupils and seven teachers between them.

Nuhoop NGK Primary near Porterville, with 37 pupils and three teachers, faced closure last year by Education MEC Donald Grant because dwindling pupil numbers had led to multi-grade teaching. It was among 27 schools initially targeted for closure. The pupils were to go to Middeldeurvlei NGK Primary with 98 pupils and four teachers, about 21km up the road near Piketberg.

Late last year Grant decided to let the school stay open because the pupils would not get a better education in Piketberg, where pupils also learned in multigrade classrooms.

Yesterday Parliament’s portfolio committee on basic education visited both schools to assess the state of education in farm schools and questioned the principals.

Ben Jordaan, acting principal of Nuhoop, said the community had been fiercely opposed to the closure.

“The community were back- ing the school all the way to keep it open. They organised the fight.”

He said it was a joyous day when the school was kept open.

“The children wouldn’t like to change schools. Their results are excellent because they get a lot of attention.”

Jordaan said the classes were separated into Grade R, Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 4 to 6.

Pupils went to schools in Porterville or to Middeldeurvlei for Grade 7.

Multigrade teaching was far harder work than usual teaching, he said.

“You have to have a lot of previous experience.”

Jordaan said they would now work toward improving the school after being given a second chance.

Conrad Tobias, principal of Middeldeurvlei, said the closure of Nuhoop would not have been good for the pupils.

“Although the school is multigrade I know all of the learners, I know all of the parents. When they go to a big school, the teachers are only interested in results.”

He said multigrade teaching was hard work for teachers.

“We must prepare three different lessons. The time is not enough. The new curriculum is very difficult for us to follow.”

Both schools were neat and clean, the classroom walls covered in bright posters. Each school had its own library and computer centre.

Hope Malgas, chairwoman of the portfolio committee, was pleased with what she saw yesterday

“It seems they are well organised and they are doing good work.”