Two grades per classroom

SIX teachers to 184 pupils.

Grade 2s and 3s share a class while Grade 4s and 5s are squeezed into another classroom.

A Grade 7 pupil said the situation at Thukeyana Primary School outside Underberg, about 120km from Umzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal, was saddening.

At times, the pupil said, they were combined with Grade 1s.

“When the teacher is teaching us, the Grade 1s will be reading. But sometimes they disturb us.

“There are only six classrooms in our school. It is small. We need more classrooms,” said the pupil.

Another pupil said they desperately needed a new school to be built.

A teacher who spoke to Sowetan on condition of anonymity said it was difficult to teach under those circumstances.

“Pupils have to share furniture. Honestly, we are not coping. These children are not getting the quality of education they should be getting.

“Most of them come from poor families and need education to change the situation back home,” said the teacher.

There are six teachers at the school. One of whom is the principal and was on leave last week. This resulted in the remaining teachers having extra work, hopping from one class to another, to ensure that teaching and learning continued even under the difficult situation.

Education spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said the department had noted the discoveries made by the National Council of Provinces when it visited the schools.

“The matters are receiving urgent attention and will be attended to,” Mahlambi said.