Learners at Zeekoevlei Primary School in Lotus River returned to class on Wednesday, but concerns about overcrowding have already emerged. Vanessa Le Roux from Equal Education said she received a call from a parent who reported that 76 Grade 7 learners had been placed in a single Afrikaans class.
“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?” Le Roux said, sharing the parent’s concerns on Facebook.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has confirmed that the matter is being addressed.
“District officials visited the school on Tuesday and identified challenges related to class structures and timetabling,” said WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond.
Following the termination of an SGB-funded post last year, the school now requires an additional Afrikaans class to accommodate learners effectively.
“The WCED is actively supporting the school in restructuring its programme. Educators’ qualifications have been reviewed, and a meeting was held yesterday to explore available options and adjust the timetable,” Hammond said.
The department aims to have the additional class in place by next week to ensure learners are properly accommodated as the new school year begins.
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