Overcrowding crisis in classrooms hits Madikoloshe Malepe Secondary School in Limpopo
Parents in Limpopo province have reached their breaking point, threatening to halt all classes at Madikoloshe Malepe Secondary School as extreme overcrowding combines with plummeting academic performance to create an educational crisis.
'We have no choice but to take drastic action,' says David Mokoena, School Governing Body Chairperson. 'The entire situation is costing our children their future, and we cannot allow it to continue any longer.'
The school, located in Praktiseer outside Burgersfort, has become emblematic of South Africa's education infrastructure challenges. Grade 8 classrooms currently accommodate an astounding 124 learners, while Grade 9 classrooms hold 109 students—far exceeding educational best practices.
Teachers report being unable to move through classrooms to provide individual attention, while many students lack basic desk space. The overcrowding has worsened as enrollment increased by approximately 100 new students.
'Some learners don't even have desks,' Mokoena explains. 'Teachers cannot walk around the classroom to check work or provide guidance. How can learning happen in these conditions?'
Adding to the frustration, Madikoloshe Malepe is among 1,000 schools nationwide selected to pilot the General Education Certificate program based on South Africa's Three Stream Model. This innovative approach aims to prepare learners for careers as lawyers, builders, doctors, thinkers, organizers, or influencers through vocational, occupational, and academic pathways.
According to education experts, South Africa's Three Stream Model represents a significant educational reform, dividing learning into academic, technical vocational, and technical occupational streams to better prepare students for diverse career paths. However, the severe resource constraints at Madikoloshe Malepe undermine these ambitious goals.
The crisis reflects broader educational challenges in Limpopo. Recent statistics indicate over 1,600 learners across the province remained unplaced at the start of the 2025 school year, while numerous schools report similar overcrowding issues. At Ketlane Primary School, for instance, some classrooms accommodate over 100 learners, creating nearly impossible teaching conditions.
School administrators report sending 'countless series of letters' to circuit officials requesting mobile classrooms to alleviate the overcrowding. The poor academic results from the previous quarter have only intensified parents' concerns.
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Mosebjane Kgaffe, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Education, acknowledged the situation: 'The department is aware of the overcrowding at Madikoloshe Malepe Secondary School. We have received requests for additional adhoc educators; however, the school is currently allocated 11 posts—a principal, head of department, and nine educators.'
Kgaffe promised relief may be coming: 'After approval by the Head of Department, the school's challenges will be put on the priority list. Utilizing mobile classrooms will reduce overcrowding, and the request for additional resources has been given the necessary attention it deserves.'
For parents and students enduring daily educational challenges in cramped, freezing classrooms, these promises offer little immediate comfort as their educational futures hang in the balance.
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