Education Committee Calls for Urgent Action Following School Oversight Visits

Mahikeng – The North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Education, Arts, Culture and Sports Development has called on the North West Department of Education to urgently address infrastructure, staffing and learner support challenges identified during oversight visits to schools and a public library across the province.

The oversight programme was led by Hon. Chairperson of Chairpersons Hon. Tebogo Modise and Members of the Portfolio Committee on Education, Arts, Culture and recreation Hon. Lerato Tsholo, Hon. Wolfgang Wallhorn and Hon. Justice Dabampe. The visits formed part of the Committee’s constitutional mandate to monitor service delivery, assess the implementation of education policies and programmes, and ensure that learners and communities have access to quality public services.

During a visit to Rantsou Primary School in Mothutlung, Brits, the Committee identified challenges relating to electricity supply, inadequate perimeter fencing, scholar transport, Grade R facilities and the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). Members also raised concerns about the condition of the school’s ablution facilities and called for an assessment to determine compliance with the Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure.

The Committee further heard that an acting principal had reportedly performed management responsibilities for several years without receiving an acting allowance. Members expressed concern over the delay in resolving the appointment and recommended that the Department provide written reasons explaining why the matter remains unresolved.
Scholar transport also emerged as a significant concern, with Members informed that some parents are compelled to arrange private transport while other learners miss school due to the unavailability of government-funded scholar transport.

At Hebron Technical High School, the Committee engaged with school management regarding staffing and curriculum delivery. Members were informed that although the school offers specialised technical programmes, several educators are teaching outside their areas of expertise, while others are not appropriately qualified to teach technical subjects.
The Committee also visited Katakane Primary School in the same area, where ageing infrastructure, inadequate sanitation and deteriorating buildings remain serious concerns. Members observed that poor sanitation facilities pose potential health and safety risks to learners.

During the oversight programme, the Committee also visited the Brits Library, where officials highlighted several operational challenges affecting service delivery. These include inadequate and ageing toilet facilities, insufficient library space to accommodate users and resources, and a shortage of permanent staff. Members were informed that staff employed through provincial grant funding, whose contracts commenced in 2008, have never been permanently absorbed. As a result, many have since left, while the remaining contract employees have served for more than five years without permanent appointment. The Committee further noted that, despite these challenges, grant funding continues to play a vital role in supporting the library’s operations, including the provision of a new set of modern desktop computers received in February this year.

The Committee has urged the Department of Education, together with relevant stakeholders, to prioritise infrastructure upgrades, improve scholar transport services, address staffing challenges and provide regular progress reports on the implementation of corrective measures to ensure that learners and communities are provided with safe, dignified and conducive environments for learning and access to information.