Question NW70 to the Minister of Basic Education
29 February 2016 - NW70
Bergman, Mr D to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)Whether the Miller Congregational School in the Graaff-Reinet district in the Eastern Cape has been closed; if so, (a) why, (b) when, (c) how many learners have been affected and (d) what alternative arrangement has been made to accommodate the learners who were attending the school; (2) whether the requirements for the closure of a school as described in the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996, have been complied with in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. Information received from the Eastern Cape Department of Education indicates that the Miller Congregational (Primary) School in the Graaff-Reinet district in the Eastern Cape was closed down.
(a) The reason for its closure was that it had 17 learners from Grade 1 to Grade 7 and had one educator. The only educator was appointed as a Head of Department at Willowmore Secondary School. The school was therefore unviable as it did not have the minimum enrolment figures of 135 learners required in terms of the Regulations Relating to Minimum Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure.
(b) The school was closed down at the end of the second term on 26 June 2015.
(c) 17 Learners were affected by this closure.
(d) The Learners were transferred to Willowmore Primary School and are being accommodated in a School Hostel.
2. The requirements in terms of the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996 were complied with in the process of closing the school.