Confusion as schools social audit results go unused

THE ball is in the provincial Standing Committee on Education’s court to pave the way for equal learning experiences, but it says it needs outstanding documentation from advocacy group Equal Education (EE).

EE in the meantime says it has given committee members all they need, and is surprised to hear that they need more.

The matter involves the findings of a social audit completed by EE, which investigated problems affecting 244 schools across the Western Cape

Among the findings were that 74% of schools did not have a toilet for pupils with disabilities; 57% of schools did not meet the Western Cape Education Department’s minimum of one toilet for every 35 pupils; corporal punishment takes place at 83% of schools – four out of five pupils reported that teachers used sticks, batons, pipes, and other objects to hit them; and, pupils reported incidents of sexual assault at 16% of schools.

Less than half of schools had a full-time security guard; and while 98% of schools were fenced, 42% of schools had holes in their fences, it also found.

Standing Committee on Education chairperson Basil Kivedo said a follow-up meeting to discuss the issues would be arranged as soon as it got EEs sampling methodology.

“We need the names of schools and geographical location of the schools sampled. As soon as we have that and have worked through it, we will decide on a meeting date,” Kivedo said.

But EE provincial deputy head Noncedo Madubedube said EE gave the portfolio committee its full social audit report, an executive summary, and a picture essay.

“These three documents show our findings gathered from 224 schools around the Western Cape, and comprehensive detail on the methodology used.

“We are surprised to hear that they haven’t interrogated the report. All the information they require is with them and we wait to hear from them regarding a way forward and invitation for further engagement,” Madubedube said.

EE said its campaign for equal education continued.