Gauteng teacher: "I am sitting with 53 Grade one learners"
A teacher has shared how her class has increased to 53 students, and she has had to borrow desks and chairs from other classes to accommodate her learners.
Being in a situation where things feel out of your control is never ideal, yet it’s an unfortunate reality of how the world works. A teacher from a school in Gauteng recently shared the challenges of managing a class of 53 learners, with not enough tables or chairs for all her students.
Teacher Landi explained how she had to borrow furniture from the Grade R classes and expressed her sadness for colleagues who were managing 70+ learners.
As parents, we often find ourselves critical of teachers, but how often do we stop to consider things from their perspective?
How are teachers expected to give each student the attention and care they need when they’re outnumbered by 53 (or more)?
READ MORE: Big school: How do we prepare?
This conversation isn’t new – the issue of overcrowded classrooms in public schools has been a long-standing concern.
Teacher Landi questioned the government's priorities regarding our education system. Our education system is far from a one-size-fits-all approach, and there are always multiple perspectives to consider.
But despite the challenges, the dedication of teachers who are doing their best with the limited resources available gives us hope.
Watch Teacher Landi's video, which attracted a plethora of comments from other teachers facing similar situations, courtesy of TikTok.
@teacherlandi #tiktoksouthafrica #teachersoftiktok #teacherlandi #teacherthings #bestteacher ♬ original sound - Landi
READ MORE: Grade 1: Guidance from a teacher
Teacher Landi was shocked when another teacher, known as Gugu and Summer on TikTok, commented: "Hi. I have 95 learners in my class."
At first, she hoped it was a joke, but unfortunately, it wasn't.
Teacher Gugu explained: "I fit 3 learners in one desk. We have no classrooms and are understaffed; however, according to the department, we are 'enough'."
Many in the comments urged Teacher Gugu to share more about her situation. Check out the video she shared on TikTok.
@guguandsummer Replying to @nokwindla34 ♬ original sound - Gugu and Summer
She went on to explain that while this is her form class, she also teaches two other classes in the same room. She openly admits that, due to the overcrowding, she doesn’t know all the students' names and struggles to assess them properly.
Watch the second video from TikTok below.
@guguandsummer Replying to @bigvicenergy369 ♬ original sound - Gugu and Summer
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Image Courtesy of TikTok