School of thought

IN A country crying out for decent education, it seems crazy to consider closing down any schools. Yet, authorities have been doing so for years, without much fuss from the public and often for valid reason. Until May 2012, when Education MEC Donald Grant notified 27 schools of his intention to close them by the end of the year.

There was an immediate public outcry and five months later Grant announced that seven schools could remain open but 20 would be closed.

Then the courts intervened, thwarting Grant’s plan. This week two of the three Western Cape High Court judges considering the issue found that 17 schools which had opposed their closure should remain open.

The two judges had harsh words for the procedures followed by Grant, describing the public meetings and consultations as “an artificial formality,” and a “flawed process”.

They found that the reasons given for the closures were “extraordinarily brief” and “inadequate” , considering the complex decision Grant had to make. “The brief reasons provided for closure and the mechanical manner in which the process was followed manifestly impeded effective and proper representation by the applicants and the public”, they said.

The ruling, with one dissenting judge, exposes an arrogant, dismissive approach to decision-making.

Clearly the MEC was impatient and failed to take seriously his obligation to consult schools, communities and the public. He had already decided what to do and went through the consultation process merely because he had to.

But efficiency – if that is what Grant and his officials were seeking – cannot be bought at the expense of the democratic process.

Complex decisions that affect communities require extensive consultation and negotiation. Democracy is slow and messy and the people may sometimes exercise their will in strange ways. But they have every right to do so.