Brain strain: Thousands of SA schools still without libraries, laboratories and computer centres 13 Janurary 2025 – Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) “A total of 16 648 out of the 22 511 public schools in South Africa have no libraries while 18 551 have no laboratories and 14 839 no computer centres. The Equal Education Law Centre says its unacceptable that most schools in SA lack the basic resources to allow pupils to thrive academically.”
Only 3,926 or 17.4% of the country’s 22,597 public schools have science laboratories 02 October 2023 – TimesLive
About 20 000 SA schools have no laboratories 29 Apr 2023 – IOL Article
An article about the school crisis appeared in a local newspaper 15 March 2012 – Volksblad
Only 15% of public schools have laboratories 7 March 2012 – South African Institute of Race Relations
This article appeared in a local newspaper on 8 March 2012 and it highlights the need for school laboratory equipment.
English Translation:
SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE THE AMENITIES
The number of schools with science laboratories dropped sharply between 2006 and last year. According to the South Africa Survey Report of the South African Institute of Race Relations there was a 35% decrease in schools with laboratories. The largest decrease was in Gauteng (76% to 40%).
According to Mr. Jonathan Snyman, a researcher at the institute, only 3 772 from almost 24 000 public schools had laboratories last year. He said it raises serious questions about why it happened.
He referred to Ms Angie Motshekga Minister of Basic Education’s announcement of a national strategy aimed to improve results in mathematics, science and technology and more attention for the training of teachers.
“It’s good and well for teachers to improve their training, but they can do little if they do not have well-equipped laboratories” said Snyman.
