Teaching Multigrade Classes

2. 1. Definition of multi-grade classes and
tell why they exist.
Discuss in your own word:
2. The nature of multi-grade classroom
and tell where they are found.
3. Some advantages of having multi-grade classes.

3. Case 1.1 Reaching one Multi-Grade
School
The school inspector is going to visit Thaba Limphe Primary
School. He leaves his office at the District Headquarters by public
bus, and travels into the mountains for four hours. When he
descends from the bus, he can see the school on the mountain-side,
but he still has to go a long distance. Fortunately, he finds a villager
who is prepared to rent him a horse. He rides down to a river, which
is low at this time of the year, so that he can cross without getting
wet. Last year some people were drowned on their way to the
school. A flash flood occurred when they were crossing the river.

4. Climbing from the river, the inspector follows a track
along a mountain ridge surrounded by cattle-posts and
small fields. On the side of the mountains, he sees small
homesteads of a few huts and trees. It is around 4 o’clock,
and children are coming back from school. Some children
have to walk more than one hour from school to their
homes, where chores, such as milking the cows and
fetching water, await them.

5. The inspector finally reaches the school building, which consists of
three rooms. The teachers welcome him, and offer him some tea
and biscuits from the school kitchen. The inspector will stay the
night in the classroom, because there is no room at the head
teacher’s home, which is a small one-room hut. During the night,
they discuss the problems of teaching the curriculum in a way
which is relevant to the pupils. The teachers complain about the
lack of materials and other resources. The next day the inspector
continues his round on horseback for another four hours to reach
the next remote school.

6. List 4 reasons why Thaba Limphe
Primary School is multi- grade.
Breakout Session

10. Why are there Multi- Grade
Classes ?

14. How would remote community
benefits of having multi-grade class?