Cosmo City Junior Primary School is facing severe overcrowding with one Grade 1 class, there are 92 learners, while a Grade 2 class has 87 learners. The average teacher-to-learner is one educator for every 73 learners. This learning environment, bursting at the seams, deprives learners of a nurturing space to flourish and develop their unique potential.
This happens despite the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) pledging to establish 4000 satellite schools for relief. The school currently has 2793 learners enrolled, far exceeding its intended capacity of 1024.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) recently discovered this during its oversight inspections at various schools in the Cosmo City area.
The school faces a shortage of furniture. Many learners do not have desks to use in classrooms, and some teachers have to accommodate three learners at desks meant for two. Due to a shortage of classroom space, many learners are forced to be taught sitting outside under a tree.
See photos here, here, here, and here.
Inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of human resources worsen the situation. The school has only 24 toilets for nearly 3,000 learners, and many of these toilets are in poor condition. Additionally, the absence of a permanent principal means the acting principal is left to manage an overwhelming number of learners without sufficient support. This crisis reflects a broader pattern of neglect within the education system.
The DA Gauteng will submit questions to the Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, to ascertain whether the 4000 satellite schools have been established and the exact locations.
We demand that the GDE take immediate action by providing additional mobile classrooms and essential resources to address the overcrowding crisis in our schools throughout the province. We also urge the department to pursue a permanent solution to the inadequate facilities, ensuring learners have access to safe and conducive learning environments.
The DA will continue to fight for the rights of our children and ensure they receive quality education and a conducive learning environment in all schools across the province.