Concern expressed over high school entrance exams

AMID the placement of pupils plight, parents are concerned that the practice of writing entrance exams for high school placement adds to the barrier of the department’s online admission system.

Parents say children who stay closest to schools are being excluded because they don’t make these tests and they are concerned as to why their children are subjected to the need for an entrance exam instead of prioritising the need for more academic support.

Under a Parents For Equal Education’s Facebook post, founded by Vanessa le Roux, the post showed an enquiry Le Roux sent to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) about the matter. In the comment section, parents shared their thoughts and felt that the need for an entrance exam created further challenges.

Shamsoenisa Salie said: “This examination process is discriminating, but so is the application process when handing over your Grade 7 report card. Children living closest to the school should be given first preference, which should be the basis of the requirement. Schools are supposed to be serving their local community first. This practice alone should be banned.”

WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said that in terms of the WCED policy for the management of admission and registration of pupils at ordinary public schools, only pupils with specific aptitudes would be allowed to attend an agricultural, Dinaledi or focus school.

Thus, not every pupil will be entitled to education at an agricultural, Dinaledi or focus school, even if such a school is the nearest school; nor will every pupil be entitled to equal access to a focus school without meeting the subject ability requirements, to benefit from such access.

“In terms of the National Admission Policy, where placement in a specific course or programme, for example, for a technical field of study, dance, visual art, music, drama, sport, maths is required, and where it would be in the educational interest of a pupil, he or she may be requested by the HoD to undergo a competence test to assist a placement decision. This provision is applicable for admission to agricultural, Dinaledi and focus schools, where pupils would be required to sit for provincial tests in specialist fields to assess suitability of placement,” said Hammond.

Upset by this response, Le Roux said the entrance exam is designed to discriminate against the weaker academic pupil, and given the challenges with the online system already, the need for an entrance exam needs to be shelved.

“This online process doesn’t even reach everyone, as the department can’t comprehend that not all parents have access to these facilities. These entrance exams add to our problems of unplaced pupils, as these schools take the best academic performing children, and the rest must go to already overcrowded schools or remain unplaced, and we should stop entertaining this unlawful practice of discrimination. Therefore, I requested the DBE and Parliament’s Portfolio Committee for a formal investigation ...

“It states in the WCED’s admission policy that the governing body of a public school may not administer any test related to the admission of a pupil to a public school, or direct, or authorise the principal of the school or any other person to administer such test.

“The WCED’s admission policy is in conflict with this act and is therefore invalid. The DBE can inform them to change this policy, or the matter must be taken to court” said Le Roux.

In response to Le Roux’s email, outgoing Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said that focus schools are within their rights to administer tests as that is the purpose of a focus school – to attract people with the ability and talent in particular areas so that the school will be one of excellence in that sphere of study.

“There is thus a clear legislative basis for this practice. It does not amount to unfair discrimination, which is unlawful. This is for a legitimate purpose. We will thus not be stopping this practice, which will defeat the purpose of having focus schools. Learners who do not have the specific abilities to gain access to focus schools will be accommodated in other schools,” said Schäfer.