Bashasha (Tshilamba)

Bashasha Primary in Mulodi, Tshilamba, Limpopo. First of all, one teacher looking after 38 kids. Thirty. Eight. Kids. That is not a classroom, that is a taxi rank. The teacher is not teaching, the teacher is surviving. You know how a minibus taxi driver just keeps stuffing people in until the door barely closes? That is what every single lesson at Bashasha looks like. "Sir there is no space." "Voetsek, shift up, we still have three more coming." 1319 learners and only 34 educators. Do the maths, and I know that is hard when your maths teacher is also your science teacher, your life orientation teacher, and probably the person who fixes the photocopier. This is a no-fee school so at least nobody is going broke, but bru, the government said "we will pay" and then delivered one teacher per almost 39 learners and called it a day. The WCED does not even cover Limpopo and even they would be embarrassed by that ratio. Limpopo in general does not get enough credit and Tshilamba is out there holding it down, but someone in an office somewhere looked at 1319 kids and said 34 teachers is fine and then went home for the weekend. The kids are not the problem. The kids are showing up. The system is the one playing hooky. Overall verdict: Bashasha is built on community, survival, and teachers who deserve a government salary, a bonus, and an actual apology.