Praktiseer school urgently needs infrastructure upgrades

Parents of the learners at Madikoloshe Malepe High School in the Segorong area of Praktiseer, are concerned about the safety of their children.

This is after reports that 125 learners are forced to attend lessons in a single classroom.

The Grade Eight class at the school has 125 learners in one classroom, while Grade Nine has 230 pupils in two classrooms. In one Grade Nine class, 125 pupils are crammed into the room, while 105 pupils occupy the other one.
The school is in the Mabulane Circuit of the Sekhukhune East District.
Speaking to Steelburger/Lydenburg News, a community leader and the Praktiseer member of the South African National Civics Organisation (Sanco), David Mokoena, said the crowded classrooms hamper progress at this school.

“We are concerned about the overload in the classrooms. Educators cannot manoeuvre in class to check the learners’ progress.
“This is not our only challenge, our school has a shortage of chairs and other furniture. Some of the pupils are forced to stand while learning. This is a big challenge and a heavy load for the hard-working teachers, as the classes are congested. How will the educators excel in these conditions?” he asked.

Mokoena, who is also the chairperson of the school’s governing body, said the Madikoloshe Malepe situation is shameful.

“The local circuit is taking us for granted as they know our situation and have been ignoring us. We urgently request mobile classes to be provided to the school.”

This publication questioned the Limpopo Department of Education about the school’s challenges. The departmental spokesperson, Mike Maringa, advised the school management team to engage their local circuit. “They must engage our infrastructure department through the Sekhukhune East District.”

Madikoloshe Malepe was a top-performing school in the circuit in 2024, boasting a 90.6% matric pass rate.