Gauteng public schools face severe overcrowding with nearly half operating beyond capacity
via The Citizen7 min read
Gauteng's public school system is experiencing a significant overcrowding crisis, with 1,021 of its 2,111 schools operating above their intended capacity. The province's student enrollment has more than doubled since 1995, now reaching 2,835,168 pupils, with an annual increase of approximately 50,000. MEC for Education Lebogang Maile stated that 48% of public schools are over capacity, with secondary schools particularly affected; 64% of secondary schools are oversubscribed, compared to 41% of primary schools. This imbalance is exacerbated by having more than twice as many primary schools as secondary schools, leading to a net shortfall of 88,088 spaces in secondary schools, requiring an estimated 83 additional full-sized schools. Infrastructure risks are so severe in five districts that not all pupils may be placed for the 2027 academic year. Johannesburg South and Tshwane West are the hardest-hit districts, with 68% of schools operating above capacity. The crisis is driven by in-migration to Gauteng as an economic hub, with residential development outpacing school construction. The province aims to build ten new schools annually, but this target is not consistently met, and Maile acknowledged a deficit of at least 200 new schools to stabilize the system. Budget constraints, with a large portion absorbed by educator wages, limit funds for infrastructure and maintenance. A significant furniture shortage also exists, with primary schools lacking 67,855 chairs and 25,990 double
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