Question NW2436 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
28 August 2023 - NW2436
Hendricks, Mr MGE to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) Whether her department has any regulatory control over the curriculum being taught by a certain school (name furnished) as confirmed by its Director for Education (details furnished); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether she will intervene to de-register and close the school for (a) promoting a certain ideology (name furnished) in furtherance of apartheid and (b) preparing and encouraging South African learners to serve in a foreign army that is renowned for its brutality and ongoing defence of apartheid (details furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether she has found that the school’s curriculum and ethos contravene the values of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which rails at all forms of apartheid, which the United Nations Organisation declared a crime against humanity; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The school is an independent school and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) indicates that it receives support as required. It teaches the CAPS curriculum.
All independent schools are required to adhere to the Regulations relating to the registration of and subsidies to independent schools, which is monitored by the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs).
The school must ensure that:
(i) The average duration of a school day and the minimum number of school days per calendar year comply with the prescribed national hours as stipulated in the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) and Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement Documents.
(ii) The curriculum for learners in the various school phases meet the required outcomes of the NCS and are recognised by the Authority and Higher Education South Africa, and after registration, the independent school applies for accreditation with Umalusi.
The WCED ensures that the standards by and conditions under which such examinations are conducted by an independent school, equate to those required of a public school for the same examination.
The WCED will monitor the school’s compliance with the assessment requirements, including School Based Assessment (SBA), Practical Assessment Tasks, and Language oral assessments. This involves, inter-alia, moderation of assessments.
2. The power to deregister schools lies with the relevant Provincial Education Department.
3. The CAPS curriculum is aligned to the Constitution.