Dept under fire for costly matric bash

THE HEAD of Department of Education in the Northern Cape, Tshepo Pharasi, has come under fire for allegedly spending more than R1 million on a matric farewell party for 388 matric learners who are being accommodated at two matric camps.

The department confirmed that it was hosting the event, but refused to tell the DFA how much of the taxpayers’ money would be used to finance it.

“It is absurd that more than a million rands is being spent on a matric farewell which will not benefit these learners,” senior officials in the department said.

“That money could have been used instead to send them to tertiary institutions next year.”

According to one source, more than R100 000 was used to purchase clothes for the learners from a local retailer. “The department is even buying expensive presents for the learners.”

Spokesman for the Department of Education, Lehuma Ntuane, said the event was aimed at “preparing the learners for the 2012 final matric examinations”.

He explained that the decision to host the event for the learners was informed by the fact that the learners had been in the care of the department since they joined the camps.

“Most of these learners left their families and communities behind to join the special school camps in pursuit of a better future. Some were even discouraged to join the special schools but they still saw the need to attend.

“They have shown remarkable courage and determination under trying circumstances and sterling academic progress has been registered since they joined the camps,” Ntuane pointed out. He added that the department did not view the event as wasteful expenditure, given the challenges the learners had faced.