Question NW850 to the Minister of Basic Education
24 May 2016 - NW850
Mashabela, Ms N to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether she has taken any steps to address the challenge in the Amathole region in the Eastern Cape Province, since being notified that teachers at Seymour High School are not teaching learners since schools open in January 2016; if not, why not; if so; which steps has she taken?
Reply:
The National Department of Basic Education contacted the Eastern Cape Education Department to seek clarity on the matter as we could not find a Seymour High School in the Amathole region on the national database. The Eastern Cape Department indicated that there is no Seymour High School in the Amathole but Seymour Primary School, located in the Fort Beaufort district. The province and the district were not aware of any disruptions at Seymour Primary School – a school that had been visited by district officials at the beginning of the year to assess readiness for the 2016 academic year. The principal of Seymour Primary School has also sent in a written response indicating that the school has operated normally since the opening of schools on 11 January 2016, and no disruptions have been experienced at the school. The response from Seymour Primary School attached (Annexure A)