No schools to be closed in Eden, Central Karoo

Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier has placed a moratorium on the closing down of schools.

This follows in response to the National Department of Basic Education's (DBE) recently adopted national framework on rural education which includes a process of rationalising and merging small and non-viable rural schools.

"We are not convinced by the national department's framework for closing schools, which essentially says that if a school is a micro-school and has multigrade teaching, we should close it," said Maynier in response to a query from George Herald.

A micro-school is one that has fewer than 135 learners in a primary school and fewer than 200 in a high school. These schools, according to the DBE, should be considered for closure and merger.

Maynier confirmed that no schools in the Eden and Central Karoo education district are being considered for closure.

"Having looked at the 'Standard Parameters for Closure and Merger of

Micro Public Schools', and the 'Guidelines for Rationalisation and Realignment of Public Schools - a Holistic Approach', we are not sure this is the best way to approach the unique circumstances of each school," he said.

"We want to develop our own data-driven policy in line with our vision before proceeding. In light of this, I have placed a moratorium on school closures, pending a review of our approach."

In a briefing to the Basic Education Parliamentary Committee on 7 September, the DBE said it has "a constitutional mandate that included the provision of quality education to learners, and one of the concerns surrounding these small schools was the quality of education. The quality of teaching and learning was compromised by multi-grade teaching and teacher overload".

We are not sure this is the best way to approach the unique circumstances of each school.