RCE2601
Assignment 2 2024
Unique Number: 767038
Due Date: 7 August 2024
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, OPTION 1: OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS
OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS IN SOUTH AFRICA: IMPACT ON
LEARNING AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
INTRODUCTION
Overcrowded classrooms have increasingly become a global educational
challenge. According to a UNESCO report (2015), an ideal student-to-teacher
ratio is critical for creating conducive learning environments. Unfortunately,
burgeoning class sizes have escalated the workload for educators and diluted
instructional quality, thus impeding student learning outcomes (OECD, 2018).
In South Africa, this problem is particularly acute, affecting not only academic
performance but also the holistic development of students.
Environmental factors significantly influence a child’s cognitive and emotional
growth, making the issue of overcrowded classrooms worthy of urgent
attention. Studies have shown that overcrowded classrooms contribute to
heightened anxiety, decreased individual attention, and reduced participation,
all of which undermine effective teaching and learning (Spaull, 2013).
Furthermore, the South African Constitutional Court mandates the right to basic
education for all children, suggesting that systemic barriers like overcrowded
classrooms need to be addressed to fulfill this constitutional promise (Beiter,
2005). This paper explores the impact of overcrowded classrooms on student
learning and explores viable measures to mitigate this growing concern. By
addressing this issue, it is not merely the academic performance that stands to
benefit but also the broader development landscape of South Africa’s future
generations.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The issue of overcrowded classrooms in South Africa garnered my attention
due to its significant repercussions on both educational quality and student well-
being. The sheer scale of the problem is alarming, as illustrated by reports
indicating that student-to-teacher ratios frequently exceed recommended limits,
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