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A delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today commenced with its oversight visit to the North West schools to assess their readiness for the 2024 academic year.
 
Committee Chairperson Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said the focus of the visit in the North West province included, among other things, infrastructure, ablution facilities, Grade R/early childhood development sites monitoring as per migration shift of 2022, delivery of learner-teacher study material, nutrition, learner transport, special schools support and meeting with stakeholders to discuss the state of schooling in 2024.
 
Today the committee visited three schools - Pinagare High School, Molelema Primary School and P H Moeketsi Agricultural School. “The committee generally takes a sample of few schools in a district and looks at them to get a broad view of schools in different categories.
 
“So far we are happy with what we have seen. It was clear that teaching and learning is happening with teaching as well as learners in the classrooms. A condusive environment for teaching and learning clearly exists at the schools we visited. We arrived during a break at one school, learners were being fed through the nutrition programme at the school,” Ms Bingqo-Gigaba said.
 
She said some concerns were raised that impact on the functioning of our schools. Those concerns included theft during weekends or when schools are closed. She said: “We plead with our communities to take ownership of their schools and name and shame.”
 
Ms Mbinqo-Gigaba commended Molelema Primary School for its emphasis on reading, spelling bee and debating. “Learners that are able to read with meaning is what the country needs and programmes like these ensure we reach that goal.” She further commended Pinagare High School for its National Senior Certificate results as well as the well functioning management of the school.
 
The committee noted that PH Moeketsi Agriculture school was meant to accommodate much less learners than what it currently has. “That raises challenges with classrooms, educators and ablution facilities. At some stage schools must have a cut off number.”
 
During a meeting with the MEC for education in the province, the committee raised concerns about quality passes, learner transport and throughput rate and retention of learners between Grade 10 and Grade 12. The committee was assured that programmes are already in place to address these challenges. The committee will continue with its oversight visit in North West tomorrow.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba