Load shedding a growing challenge for schools as new academic year kicks off

As little ones take flight in their school careers, loadshedding remains a challenge.

Koos Sadie Primary will be welcoming 124 new Grade 1 learners who will be starting their new school year on Wednesday 18 January.

According to Estelle Rossouw, principal at Koos Sadie Primary School, they are excited to be back.

“We are 100% ready for 2023. All staff vacancies have been filled, the support staff have been working since Monday 9 January to clean the school building, classes and grounds.”

Rossouw said educators have been busy planning the curriculum for 2023 (adapted ATP’s) during the holiday. She also stated that all stationery and books have been ordered, hence they are more than ready to receive their learners.

This school has 986 learners enrolled from Grade R to Grade 7 for 2023 and all learners have been placed in a classroom. The principal said: “The school is filled to its full capacity.”

However, loadshedding (stage 6) is currently their biggest challenge. Most of their classes make use of e-learning, where electricity is needed. Rossouw explained that teachers thereof need to adapt their lessons according to loadshedding.

The office block is running on an inverter, but the inverter cannot handle four hours of loadshedding at a time, Rossouw said.

According to Rossouw, they have experienced a lot of costly damage due to loadshedding and the financial implication thereof is huge.