part a: strategic overview - Department of Education

Map 4: Learner : Educator Ration per District 2004
13.9.6 Average Classroom Size
The average classroom size has reached 40.23:1 in 2005.
As indicated in Table 29 the average classroom size has gradually decreased from 2000
to 2004 for combined schools from a high of 48.21 in 2000 to 45.86 in 2004. The LCR for
secondary schools have shown a gradual decrease from 37.33 in 2000 to 35.70 in 2004.
For public primary schools the classroom size has increased slightly from 33.91 to 33.15
in 2004. For all public schools the classroom size decreased from 40.69 in 2000 to 39.15
in 2004. The LCR was at its lowest in 2001 at 38.86. The marginal increase in LCR for
Ordinary schools can be attributed to the increasing number of grade R learners that are
being attached to primary schools. In 2004 alone the number has increased by around
8%. As more schools are attaching grade R classes to their schools, the rate should
gradually increase over the next few years.
The LCR in the poorest schools have not changed dramatically since 2001. In 2004 it is
still at the same level as in 2001, although it has shown signs of decrease in the 2002 –
2003 period. In quintile 5, the least poor quintile, the LCR has increased from 27.76 to
31.56.
There may be instances where principals may not teach the required number of hours
and thus reducing the number of class units. Principals are counted in the post
distribution to schools. When they do not offer time in class, the burden is re-distributed
to the rest of the educator core resulting in an overload of teaching contact time for
educators. This may then account for the higher classroom size. The number of
classrooms not in use but available, has not been included in this ratio, in order to
highlight the actual average number of learners in a classroom.
5 Year ECDoE Strategic Plan for 2005/06 to 2009/10. March 2006 Page 84
5 Year ECDoE Strategic Plan for 2005-06 to 2009-10. 21 F (4)Page 80
part C: background information