The closure of nearly 1500 schools in the Eastern Cape is still “pending”, with some dating back more than five years.
This according to a document by the DA in the province.
DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren said the department’s plans to close these schools hit a snag because of disagreements with parents.
“Although, the department has plans to close schools they do not have alternative places for children.”
The list includes public, private and independent schools.
Questions were sent to the provincial education department to comment on the report and verify its authenticity, but a response was received at the time of writing.
However, earlier this month education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said there were close to 1500 schools with low enrolment numbers in the province.
These were earmarked for closure.
Mtima said at the time that these included 164 high or senior secondary schools, 1068 primary schools, 181 combined schools and 145 farm schools.
The DA report listed low pupil numbers and factions within the school community as reasons for the pending closure.
They totalled 1443 schools in:
East London (52); King William’s Town (81); Grahamstown (82); Butterworth (18); Cofimvaba (20); Mthatha (17); Queenstown (52); Lady Frere (50); Ngcobo (13); Libode (6); Qumbu (11); Maluti (12); Mzimkhulu (661); Mbizana (4); Lusikisiki (5); Mount Frere (5); Sterkspruit (96); Cradock (52); Mount Fletcher (16); Dutywa (10); Fort Beaufort (44); Port Elizabeth (45); Uitenhage (36); and Graaff-Reinet (55).
Van Vuuren said he was not against the closure of schools with few pupils, but a plan was needed to ensure that education of affected pupils continued.
He said independent schools were closed down as they were built nearby public schools.
Government provides subsidy for independent schools, said UDM MPL and provincial chairman of Standing Committee on Public Accounts provincial Max Mhlati.
Mhlati claimed some schools, both public and independent, inflated enrolment numbers to get more funding. He said the plan to close down public schools could have been stonewalled by lack of agreement between the department and unions.
Mhlati said he has learnt there is an agreement between the department and unions to close down schools in the next three years to allow time for teachers to “condition” themselves before moving to new schools and areas.
Sadtu provincial secretary Mncekeleli Ndongeni could not be reached for a comment yesterday. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Slow process to shut down schools
This according to a document by the DA in the province.
DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren said the department’s plans to close these schools hit a snag because of disagreements with parents.
“Although, the department has plans to close schools they do not have alternative places for children.”
The list includes public, private and independent schools.
Questions were sent to the provincial education department to comment on the report and verify its authenticity, but a response was received at the time of writing.
However, earlier this month education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said there were close to 1500 schools with low enrolment numbers in the province.
These were earmarked for closure.
Mtima said at the time that these included 164 high or senior secondary schools, 1068 primary schools, 181 combined schools and 145 farm schools.
The DA report listed low pupil numbers and factions within the school community as reasons for the pending closure.
They totalled 1443 schools in:
East London (52); King William’s Town (81); Grahamstown (82); Butterworth (18); Cofimvaba (20); Mthatha (17); Queenstown (52); Lady Frere (50); Ngcobo (13); Libode (6); Qumbu (11); Maluti (12); Mzimkhulu (661); Mbizana (4); Lusikisiki (5); Mount Frere (5); Sterkspruit (96); Cradock (52); Mount Fletcher (16); Dutywa (10); Fort Beaufort (44); Port Elizabeth (45); Uitenhage (36); and Graaff-Reinet (55).
Van Vuuren said he was not against the closure of schools with few pupils, but a plan was needed to ensure that education of affected pupils continued.
He said independent schools were closed down as they were built nearby public schools.
Government provides subsidy for independent schools, said UDM MPL and provincial chairman of Standing Committee on Public Accounts provincial Max Mhlati.
Mhlati claimed some schools, both public and independent, inflated enrolment numbers to get more funding. He said the plan to close down public schools could have been stonewalled by lack of agreement between the department and unions.
Mhlati said he has learnt there is an agreement between the department and unions to close down schools in the next three years to allow time for teachers to “condition” themselves before moving to new schools and areas.
Sadtu provincial secretary Mncekeleli Ndongeni could not be reached for a comment yesterday. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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