Question NW3828 to the Minister of Basic Education
17 November 2023 - NW3828
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) Whether her department is responsible for monitoring schools; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether she has been informed of the appalling conditions at the Ikhwezi Lokusa Special School in the Eastern Cape and the mistreatment of learners; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what plans has she put in place to remedy the situation; (3) (a) how often do officials of her department visit special schools to ensure that basic norms and standards are maintained and (b) what are the full relevant details of the visits to the (i) specified school and (ii) other special schools; (4) what (a) actions had her department taken in 2018 when the school was in the news for the inhumane treatment of learners, (b) total number of teachers were disciplined and (c) are the relevant details of the disciplinary processes that were activated?
Reply:
1) No, the Department of Basic Education monitors and evaluates education in terms of Section 8 of the National Education Policy Act 27 of 1996. The direct monitoring of schools is the responsibility of provincial education departments (PEDs).
2) The Minister has been informed of the situation at Ikhwezi Lokusa Special School in the Eastern Cape.
3) The Department of Basic Education, through the Directorate: Inclusive Education, undertakes two rounds of provincial oversight visits annually to monitor and support the implementation of inclusive education. A sample of special care centres, special schools, ordinary schools, and full-service schools are included in the monitoring and support visits in four PEDs per year.
4) a) The Eastern Cape Department of Education intervened to address the issues raised in 2018; b) one educator was charged in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, but c) was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.