As the 2025 school year is set to begin, both parents and teachers in the province have expressed their concerns with overcrowding, late placements and lacklustre support from the Western Cape Education Department, reports Cape Town Etc.
Further issues that have been highlighted include school fees, a lack of adequate uniforms, administrative pressures, behavioural issues and academic pressures.
According to IOL, the WCED itself has confirmed their concern regarding socio-economic challenges, budgetary restraints, late placements and the building of new schools.
News24 noted these concerns at the beginning of 2024, reporting that certain schools are forced to take in hundreds of additional learners without receiving additional resources such as extra classrooms, furniture and teachers despite prior arrangements with the WCED.
School projects also then face further delay as a result of infrastructure budget allocations, as the national government has cut approximately R700 million from the provincial education budget in recent years.
One teacher commented that overcrowding stems from the recent influx of families to the Western Cape. As a result, class sizes increase and there are not enough schools for the number of learners.
Apart from overcrowding concerns and late placements, which often disrupt the system of a classroom, teachers also face pressure as it pertains to the availability of resources.
The Education Department’s decision to cut 2 407 teacher posts in the 2025 school year sparked further outrage and concern.
Financial constraints were cited as the basis for the decision to cut teaching positions.
The Voice of the Cape has stated that the decision to cut these positions will affect poor communities and schools the most because there are limited additional resources available to these bodies.
To alleviate pressure, the WCED allegedly intends to complete six new schools in the province as well as 180 additional classrooms at existing schools. Reportedly, these developments will be complete in time for the start of the 2025 school year.
The department further intends to complete another three schools and 85 additional classrooms at existing schools by the end of March.
First published by Cape Town Etc.
Compiled by Kirshni Kulsen
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