Classrooms in Crisis: KZN Learners Forced to Study Outdoors as Schools Battle Overcrowding and Lack of Facilities

by Hope Ngobeni

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In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), overcrowded schools are pushing students to study in difficult conditions due to a severe shortage of classrooms. This issue has led to learners studying outdoors, exposed to the elements and without access to basic educational facilities. The Department of Education acknowledges this challenge and is actively working with the KwaDukuza District to find both short-term and long-term solutions to ensure that students have access to proper classroom environments.

One of the schools at the heart of this issue is Dr. Ricardo Mthembu High School, a new institution established in 2023 to alleviate the overcrowding at two nearby schools: Groutville High School and Nonhlevu High School. These schools have been struggling to accommodate a rapidly growing student population, with Groutville High School enrolling over 3,000 students and Nonhlevu Secondary School admitting more than 2,500 learners. As a result, many students have been forced to attend classes in outdoor spaces, enduring harsh weather conditions that make learning increasingly difficult.

Lungi Mtshali, a spokesperson for the KZN Department of Education, confirmed the department’s awareness of the ongoing challenges at Dr. Ricardo Mthembu High School. The school was established as a “reliever” to ease the pressure on Groutville and Nonhlevu. However, the school itself is still in its early stages, lacking permanent structures and essential facilities. Mtshali emphasized that the department is working closely with the KwaDukuza District to expedite both short-term and long-term interventions.

“We are aware of the school’s challenges and have been engaging with the District to expedite the necessary interventions to put learners in proper classrooms,” Mtshali said. The new school was designed to be part of a long-term strategy to address the overcrowding crisis in the area. Located near Nonhlevu Secondary School, it was strategically placed to make future expansions easier once the infrastructure is in place.

Initially, the school began its journey at Dube Village Community Hall before temporarily relocating to Nonhlevu’s playgrounds. Here, students are housed in prefab classrooms, which are not ideal for long-term learning. The lack of permanent buildings means that the school still faces significant challenges, including a lack of essential resources. As of now, Dr. Ricardo Mthembu High School has no concrete buildings, furniture, sanitation facilities, or even running water or electricity. Nonhlevu Secondary School has stepped in to provide support, offering essential services like water, electricity, and other resources to ensure that teaching can continue.

Despite these hardships, the KZN Department of Education remains committed to improving the situation. Mtshali reassured the public that plans are in place to begin the construction of permanent facilities for Dr. Ricardo Mthembu High School as soon as possible. The hope is that, with a contractor soon to be selected, work will begin promptly to address the dire infrastructure needs of the school and improve the learning conditions for the students.

In the meantime, the situation remains challenging. The pressure of overcrowded classrooms at Groutville and Nonhlevu continues to mount, and the students at Dr. Ricardo Mthembu High School endure a makeshift learning environment with insufficient resources. The hope is that the long-awaited construction of permanent facilities will provide the school with the infrastructure it needs to properly accommodate its students and give them the educational environment they deserve.

The KZN Department of Education’s efforts to address these challenges, while still in progress, highlight the urgent need for investment in the province’s educational infrastructure. With thousands of students affected by overcrowding and substandard learning conditions, it is clear that more resources and strategic planning are needed to ensure that every learner has access to a safe and conducive environment in which to study.

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