Question NW774 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
24 March 2022 - NW774
Opperman, Ms G to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) What total number of learners are not in any (a) early childhood development centre, (b) primary school and/or (c) high school due to a lack of (i) identity documents and/or (ii) birth certificates; (2) what total number of matriculants could not write the National Senior Certificate examination in 2020 due to lack of identity documents?
Reply:
1. (a) The Department has not yet taken control of early childhood development centres; and therefore, would not be able to provide such information. the function shift will only take place in the 2022/3 financial year.
(b) and (c) The Department is not aware of any learner at primary or high school, who has been denied access to schooling due to lack of identity documents or birth certificate. Such documents have been outlawed as prerequisites for admissions by the Court of Law; and that the Department has issued Circulars and mediated the information to all provinces, Districts and schools.
(2) We are also not aware of learners who could not write the National Senior Certificate examination in 2020, due to lack of identity documents. A Circular to that effect by Umalusi, was distributed and mediated to all schools.