The Solution to Big Classrooms

Trying to gain an education in a big classroom can be a challenge. Many learners in South Africa are faced with the reality of attending a school where a class of 30 learners is the norm. Some learners regularly attend a school with 40 – 50 learners in the classroom!

The reality of a classroom with so many learners is difficult to comprehend for those who have never faced this situation. Home-schooled learners, or those in private schools with small classes, have a different reality. Even the former Model C schools, where parents pay school fees to have more teachers and facilities, often face the same problems, with big classes being common.

The classrooms are often physically overcrowded, with desks literally on top of each other. Sometimes there are not enough desks for all the learners in the class. Overcrowded classrooms are not conducive to a good education. It becomes difficult to see and hear the teacher if you sit at the back of a large classroom, and particularly if the learners are unruly. It is difficult to see the board or screen in front of the classroom. Learners who are piled on top of one another get restless and irritable. It becomes difficult, even for the most gallant and experienced of teachers, to maintain good classroom discipline, let alone teach their learners.

Many learners fall behind in their schoolwork when faced with this situation. It is not always possible to keep up in class, and it may also be embarrassing to ask questions (and hear the replies) in a large classroom.

What is the solution?

There are several options to try to alleviate this problem. Some may be more feasible with your set of circumstances than others.
Some schools offer extra lessons for the learners who are interested. These schools are often overburdened already with large classrooms and few resources. The teachers are challenged with these issues already in their normal class hours. They may not be too keen to take on more responsibility. Likewise, the learners may feel that they can’t learn more from the teachers that they have at school.

• Help from friends or family members. This is a great option if you have people in your life who have the necessary time, patience and experience to help you. You should make sure you meet consistently, apply what you are taught, and appreciate the help!
• Change to a school with smaller class sizes. This may not be feasible depending on where you live and what schools are zoned for your area. Transport to these schools is likely to cost you more. Some learners will still need more personalized attention even if they are in a smaller class.
• Change to private schooling or home schooling. This may not be feasible to many South Africans due to financial constraints. There may also not be such schools in your area.  Even in one of these schools, some learners may still require one-on-one attention to reach their full potential.
• One-on-one tutoring where the tutor comes to your home, alleviating transport challenges. This offers the benefit of having private help from someone who has excelled in the subject/s you need. The tutor would be able to identify and go back to where the problems began. The tutor will then revise up to where the learner is in the syllabus at school, thus helping the learner catch up completely.

How can BrightSparkz help?

The benefits of using a tutoring company like BrightSparkz Tutors is that the tutors have all been screened and interviewed and will most likely live close to your area. You won’t be taking a chance on someone unknown. You also will not have to do the screening and background checking yourself beforehand.

There are various options available to suit different tutoring needs. BrightSparkz Tutors also has an initiative called Project 10 000 where 10 000 tutoring hours will be dedicated to assist those who would otherwise not have the means to benefit from tutoring. Individuals and companies who are keen to give back to the community and who see furthering the education of young South Africans as a worthy initiative to invest in, are most welcome to become a sponsor to one or more learners in this initiative!

If big classrooms are a concern or barrier to your child reaching their dreams, you should investigate these options. A positive change, no matter how small, will be one step further to achieving a better future. Get in touch with us to find out how BrightSparkz Tutors can help you create brighter opportunities!

Written by Natalie Wilke, BrightSparkz Staff & Blog Writer