SCHOOL CHILDREN are being taught under gazebos at a Germiston school - east of Johannesburg - because of overcrowding while the government insists that an extra 113 learners be accommodated.
Parents and the school-governing body maintain that the school is full and shouldn't have taken the extra Grade 1 pupils. The impasse arose after the Ekurhuleni South education district ordered Galway Primary School to admit 113 more pupils this year.
The school has 703 pupils registered in its books - a number parents and the SGB say is over the school's capacity, which has resulted in " overcrowded" classrooms.
Sowetan visited the school and witnessed 64 learners being taught under two pop-up gazebos on the grass near the reception area.
This has apparently been going on case for the past three weeks since schools reopened on January 18.
SGB chairperson Angelon Mokoena told Sowetan the education district's actions had left the school in an untenable position.
"The district asked for a list of all the people who applied and were eventually admitted. Following that, they instructed the principal (Riette van den Berg) to admit 113 (grade one) learners," Mokoena said.
Parents gave district director Jerry Bhagaloo an ultimatum to address the matter or they would take it up with Gauteng education MEC Barbara Creecy and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. They petitioned Bhagaloo, Creecy and institutional support and developmental officers Masondo Nkosi and Links Govender for six mobile classrooms, one set of toilets each for boys and girls as well as furniture for the classrooms.
Parents accused the district and the provincial education department of having made "little or no progress" in addressing their concerns.
Galway primary was a pre-primary school with room for 300 pupils before it became a primary in 1999.
The numbers of pupils have continued to rise over the years but no modifications have been made to the premises.
An SGB member, who chose to remain anonymous, said "Things never run smoothly here. Some parents don't pay school fees. The school needs to have R150 000 a month for salaries and if parents don't pay but the department classifies us as Quintile five (a financially well-off grading), how are we supposed to manage?
"Only 35 percent (of parents) pay school fees."
School fees are R450 a month . The school also receives a government subsidy of between R250000 and R300000 a year .
The department admitted there was a huge demand for places at the school and the Germiston area in general.
GDE spokesman Charles Phahlane said four prefabricated classrooms were going to be allocated to Galway.
He said Galway had the option of applying for a no-fee school status but that "no such application has been received from that school".
Children taught under gazebos
SCHOOL CHILDREN are being taught under gazebos at a Germiston school - east of Johannesburg - because of overcrowding while the government insists that an extra 113 learners be accommodated.
Parents and the school-governing body maintain that the school is full and shouldn't have taken the extra Grade 1 pupils. The impasse arose after the Ekurhuleni South education district ordered Galway Primary School to admit 113 more pupils this year.
The school has 703 pupils registered in its books - a number parents and the SGB say is over the school's capacity, which has resulted in " overcrowded" classrooms.
Sowetan visited the school and witnessed 64 learners being taught under two pop-up gazebos on the grass near the reception area.
This has apparently been going on case for the past three weeks since schools reopened on January 18.
SGB chairperson Angelon Mokoena told Sowetan the education district's actions had left the school in an untenable position.
"The district asked for a list of all the people who applied and were eventually admitted. Following that, they instructed the principal (Riette van den Berg) to admit 113 (grade one) learners," Mokoena said.
Parents gave district director Jerry Bhagaloo an ultimatum to address the matter or they would take it up with Gauteng education MEC Barbara Creecy and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. They petitioned Bhagaloo, Creecy and institutional support and developmental officers Masondo Nkosi and Links Govender for six mobile classrooms, one set of toilets each for boys and girls as well as furniture for the classrooms.
Parents accused the district and the provincial education department of having made "little or no progress" in addressing their concerns.
Galway primary was a pre-primary school with room for 300 pupils before it became a primary in 1999.
The numbers of pupils have continued to rise over the years but no modifications have been made to the premises.
An SGB member, who chose to remain anonymous, said "Things never run smoothly here. Some parents don't pay school fees. The school needs to have R150 000 a month for salaries and if parents don't pay but the department classifies us as Quintile five (a financially well-off grading), how are we supposed to manage?
"Only 35 percent (of parents) pay school fees."
School fees are R450 a month . The school also receives a government subsidy of between R250000 and R300000 a year .
The department admitted there was a huge demand for places at the school and the Germiston area in general.
GDE spokesman Charles Phahlane said four prefabricated classrooms were going to be allocated to Galway.
He said Galway had the option of applying for a no-fee school status but that "no such application has been received from that school".
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos