As the new school year commences, Zeekoevlei Primary School in Lotus River faces significant challenges, with reports of an astounding 76 learners crammed into a single Grade 7 Afrikaans class.
This alarming situation has raised eyebrows among parents and educators alike, prompting calls for immediate action to ensure a conducive learning environment for all students.
Vanessa Le Roux from Equal Education was alerted by a concerned parent regarding the unprecedented class size.
In a heartfelt post shared on social media, Le Roux expressed dismay at what she describes as an untenable situation for both students and teachers.
‘Seventy-six children in one class for one subject are these people out of their minds? Where is the SGB? What do they expect from our teachers?’ her post read, echoing the frustration of many within the community.
In response to the backlash, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has assured that they are actively addressing the issue.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond stated that district officials visited the school on Tuesday and recognised the urgent need for intervention, particularly related to class structures and timetabling.
The overcrowding crisis is largely attributed to the termination of a School Governing Body (SGB)-funded post last year, leaving the institution in dire need of an additional Afrikaans class to adequately accommodate its learners.
‘The WCED is actively supporting the school in restructuring its programme.
‘Educators’ qualifications have been reviewed, and a meeting was held yesterday (Tuesday) to explore available options and adjust the timetable,‘ Hammond confirmed, as per report by Voice of the Cape News.
Parents queue at WCED offices over missing school placements
A long line of parents and learners formed outside the Western Cape Education District (WCED) office a day after schools reopened, as families searched for school placements for their children.
Parents said their children, from Grade 1 to high school, missed the first day of term while they waited for the department to act.
According to Cape Times, one mother, Sasha Juter from Portlands, said her 13-year-old stayed home after all preferred schools rejected the application.
‘It really feels like I have failed my child,’ she said. Juter said the only placement on offer was at a school she considered unsafe.
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Another parent reported that applications show a long pending status and that communication from schools and the department was slow (News24).
Some parents described months of appeals and trips to offices with motivational letters. Local reporting suggests thousands of learners remain without confirmed places across the province.
The Western Cape Education Department said demand for some schools far exceeds available spaces. The department asked parents to accept reasonable placement offers while noting that spaces may open as the system moves learners between schools. Officials urged parents to keep contact details up to date so districts can inform them when a place becomes available.
Parents called on the department to prioritise learner safety and clear, faster communication so no child misses more school.
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Picture: Rowan Vernon Bethanie / Facebook
