Walmer High School in Gqeberha is overwhelmed with nearly 2,500 students in facilities designed for half that number, leading to a protest by parents and pupils on 5 February. Delays in constructing a second school, blamed on municipal inaction, have exacerbated the crisis. Officials promise temporary relief and progress on new approvals, but residents fear years more of strain.
Walmer High School, a high-achieving institution in Gqeberha's Walmer township, faces severe overcrowding with 2,487 learners crammed into spaces meant for 1,050. This strain, worsened by rapid population growth from nearby industrial areas, has led to shared desks, students bringing chairs from home, and classes swelling to 60-80 pupils—far exceeding the standard of 37 per teacher.
Professor Mtyaleka, chairperson of the school governing body, described the conditions as a violation of children's right to basic education. "The ongoing delays to build a second school are a violation of children’s right to basic education," he said. "As a parent of a child at the school, the immediate feelings are frustration, anger and deep disappointment." Prefabricated classrooms, relocated from other sites and now dilapidated, add to the challenges, making early identification of learning barriers difficult.
Frustration boiled over on 5 February when learners and parents protested the "unconducive" environment. Plans for a second school on Erf 11305 date back over a decade; an environmental impact assessment was approved in 2017 but lapsed, requiring a restart. Despite a departmental budget ready, municipal delays have stalled progress, with a new assessment promised for early 2025 but not delivered by the protest date.
The Eastern Cape Department of Education, via spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima, announced 10 new prefabricated classrooms to ease pressure and confirmed approved technical drawings, pending land transfer from the municipality. Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya stated an EIA application would be submitted the week of 16 February, with a 6-10 month review and monthly progress meetings. Mtyaleka cautioned that full construction could still take three to four years.
The South African Human Rights Commission has highlighted such overcrowding as a systemic rights issue. Despite hardships, the school boasts strong results, including a 100% maths pass rate, thanks to dedicated staff and extended hours—though Mtyaleka believes ideal conditions could yield even better outcomes.