Question NW2183 to the Minister of Basic Education
28 October 2016 - NW2183
Boshoff, Ms SH to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)(a) What are the vacancy rates for support staff for schools for learners with special educational needs (LSEN) that have boarding facilities in each district and (b) by what date will each of the specified vacancies at the boarding facilities be filled; (2) (a) what are the vacancy rates for (i) psychologists, (ii) speech therapists, (iii) occupational therapists, (iv) physiotherapists and (v) nurses at each school for LSEN in each district of each province and (b) by what date will each of the specified vacancies be filled; (3) how many teacher training centres are training teachers through the Funza Lushaka bursary scheme in schools for LSEN in each district of each province?
Reply:
1. (a) What are the vacancy rates for support staff for schools for learners with special educational needs (LSEN) that have boarding facilities in each district and (b) by what date will each of the specified vacancies at the boarding facilities be filled;
(1) (a) and (b) The information requested is not routinely collected at a national level. A request has been sent to Provincial Education Departments for the information. It is, however, suggested that the information be sought through a Member of the Provincial Legislature as basic education is a concurrent competency.
(2) (a) What are the vacancy rates for (i) psychologists, (ii) speech therapists, (iii) occupational therapists, (iv) physiotherapists and (v) nurses at each school for LSEN in each district of each province and (b) by what date will each of the specified vacancies be filled;
(a), (i) (ii), (iii), (vi), and (v); and (b). The information requested is not routinely collected at a national level. A request has been sent to Provincial Education Departments for the information. It is, however, suggested that the information be sought through a Member of the Provincial Legislature as basic education is a concurrent competency.
(3) How many teacher training centres are training teachers through the Funza Lushaka bursary scheme in schools for LSEN in each district of each province?
(3) The Funza Lushaka bursary is being offered at 24 public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) offering Initial Teacher Education programmes such as the Bachelor in Education (B Ed) or Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Public HEIs do not train teachers specifically for LSEN schools. However, the Policy on the Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (2015) requires all B Ed and PGCE graduates to be knowledgeable about inclusive education and skilled in identifying and addressing barriers to learning, as well as in curriculum differentiation to address the needs of individual learners within a grade.