11 Jan 2016

Gaborone City councillors have condemned overcrowding in primary schools.

Speaking during a continuation of the previous year full council session in Gaborone on Monday January 11, councillors in one accord condemned and voiced their concern on classroom overcrowding.

Councillor Tshepo Moloko of Diphetogo ward decried lack of classrooms in most of the primary schools in Gaborone.

Cllr Moloko said overcrowded schools are a serious problem in many schools, saying as a result, students find themselves trying to learn while jammed into spaces never intended as classrooms, such as libraries, school hall, under trees shades where weather conditions become unfavourable.

He said bad weather conditions such such as the scotching sun, the wind, rain and cold impact negatively on the educational life of both the students and the teacher.

Cllr Moloko said some students are then forced to share school hall which may significantly affect students’ ability to concentrate as there would be two classes running concurrently that would be disruptive of one another.

He said conducting lessons in an unconducive environment or overcrowding could have an adverse effect on learning, saying students in overcrowded schools score significantly lower as such conditions negatively affect both classroom activities and instructional techniques. 

He condemned overcrowding in schools saying it threatens the health, safety, discipline issues and learning opportunities of students and urged the council to do something about it.

Mayor Kagiso Thutlwe had in the previous full council stated that during the third term, the Gaborone school’s enrolment stood at 20 848, with Ben Thema, Masa and Mophane Primary having the highest enrollment figures.

He had said the main challenge has been shortage of classrooms. 

Mayor Thutlwe had nevertheless said the council would collaborate with other stakeholders in the education sector to address the issue of teacher –student ratio as a way of improving the quality of education in schools.

He had said there were 26 classes that were taught in open areas with no shelter at all.

On other issues, councillor Tonnic Bonang of Moselewapula ward had wanted to know when Standard One pupils are admitted into primary schools. Ends