By Selloane Ntshonyane
- Gauteng education leader Lebogang Maile says the province urgently needs at least 200 new schools to fix classroom space problems.
- The number of learners in Gauteng has grown to more than 2.8 million, causing severe overcrowding in many township schools.
Many learners in Gauteng are sitting in crowded and unsafe classrooms while the province struggles to find enough teachers.
The Gauteng Department of Education said on Sunday that the school system is under severe pressure. Education MEC Lebogang Maile spoke at a media briefing about the ongoing problems.
The number of learners in the province has jumped from about 1.4 million in 1995 to more than 2.8 million in 2026. The department said this is because more people are moving to the province.
This growth has caused major space problems. Many schools in townships and inner-city areas have between 60 and 70 learners in a single class.
The department said 723 schools are overcrowded. The province needs more than 5,500 extra classrooms to give everyone enough space.
Maile said Gauteng needs at least 200 new schools, but building projects are slow. Many schools are forced to use temporary classrooms that are not safe for children.
Money is also a big problem. The education budget has gone up, but the department is spending most of it on staff wages and rising costs. This leaves very little money to fix buildings or buy learning materials.
There are not enough teachers for important subjects like maths and science. The large number of children in each class is making it very difficult for teachers to do their jobs. Many learners are struggling to read and understand their schoolwork.
The department also warned that many early childhood centres are not registered and are unsafe for young children.
To fix these issues, the department has made a plan for the next five years. The new plan will focus on bringing more technology into schools and helping learners with important subjects.
Pictured above: Lebogang Maile.
Image source: Gauteng Department of Education/Facebook
