Overcrowded classrooms affecting teaching, says Dean of Education at Stellenbosch University

Sunday marks World Teachers Day and this year's theme is “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession.”

This year's theme focuses on the importance of collaboration in education to help teachers thrive and drive positive changes.  

It highlights South Africa's own education system and its challenges.  

Professor and Dean of Education at Stellenbosch University, Mbulungeni Madiba said overcrowded classrooms affected the quality of teaching in the country.  

"For example, in Foundation Phase, if you have got over 60 learners in the class, how can a teacher really manage that kind of a class? You know that will result into more learners, you know, completing certain grades without, you know, we know now our 10-year-olds are not able to read for meaning," said Madiba.

Madiba added that the shortage of teachers also impacted the workload for those still teaching.