The North West Department of Education wishes to clarify that the recent situation at Nthapelang Primary School in Matolong village near Taung where toilets were unfortunately used as classrooms on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 has been addressed.

Upon learning of the situation, the Department immediately dispatched officials to the school to resolve the issue and on the next day learners were back to their normal classrooms.

The department found that the principal committed a serious mistake by utilizing the toilets as classrooms even when the school had enough classrooms for learning and teaching.

The Department also found that the principal made another error of taking teachers from neighbouring schools. The principal acted universally by transferring teachers to his school.

It is important to clarify that the situation was immediately rectified as soon as the Department became aware and all learners are back in proper classrooms.

The school is not overcrowded. It employs a multi-grade teaching, a department-approved policy for smaller schools.
The school has 211 learners, five teachers, and seven classrooms, with an average class size of 20 students. The largest class has 34 learners.

While multi-grade teaching is an approved practice, the principal’s decision to expand classrooms into the toilets was unauthorized.

MEC for Education in the North West, Viola Motsumi strongly condemns the principal’s actions and has initiated an investigation into the matter.

“We cannot overemphasize how incorrect this decision undertaken by the principal is. As such, this incident needs our immediate attention. I have since launched a team to formally investigate this incident and pursue appropriate consequences”, Motsumi expressed.

The investigation will be concluded with appropriate consequences.

The department remains committed to providing a safe and conducive learning environment for all learners in the province. We will continue to monitor the situation at Nthapelang Primary School and ensure that all departmental policies and procedures are followed.

For more information please contact:
Mphata Molokwane Spokesperson
082 979 3638
Or
Elias Malindi
Acting Head Of Communications
072 892 8399