Rédaction Africa Links 24 with sabcnews.com
Published on 2024-01-29 17:56:06
In parts of the Eastern Cape, some rural schools are facing serious challenges that are impacting the quality of education for students. Nogemane Senior Secondary School in Ngqeleni is one of these schools, dealing with overcrowding, teacher shortages, and a lack of resources.
The school made headlines in 2017 when protesting students set fire to two blocks of classrooms after the school couldn’t fund a farewell function. The students have since been working and studying in prefabricated classrooms that were provided back in 2015. However, these temporary structures are not sufficient to meet the needs of the growing student population. Classes meant for 40 students are now accommodating over 120, leading to a shortage of teachers and furniture. Some students are forced to squeeze into single desks, while others have to use their laps or the floor as their writing surfaces.
The school governing body, along with concerned parents, has been advocating for the improvement of the school facilities. They have noted the unsafe and unsanitary conditions of the school buildings, which are detrimental to both students and teachers. The lack of proper infrastructure has also affected the availability of study materials, particularly for subjects like Physical Science, where practicals and laboratory resources are vital for comprehensive learning.
Despite the challenges, Nogemane Senior Secondary School has managed to achieve an impressive 93% matric pass rate for the class of 2023. However, the provincial Department of Education has attributed the school’s difficulties to poor management.
Parents, students, and school officials continue to push for reforms, urging the authorities to address the issues and improve the conditions for the sake of the students’ education and overall well-being. Hopefully, with increased attention and support, Nogemane Senior Secondary School will be able to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for its students.
