Question NW2240 to the Minister of Basic Education
19 September 2017 - NW2240
Mokgalapa, Mr S to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What are the details of the progress made on the merging of schools, including how the respective provincial education departments have assisted each merged school with (a) accommodation, (b) transport, (c) the National School Nutrition Programme and (d) any other assistance?
Reply:
The following table provides the background and summary of the progress reported by Provincial Education Departments with regards to the closing and merging of small and non-viable schools:
|
Province |
No. of schools identified for closure |
No. of schools officially closed/ merged to date |
No. of schools in process of being closed/merged |
|
EC |
1 902 |
0 |
189 |
|
FS |
171 |
No info |
93 |
|
GP |
126 |
106 |
20 |
|
KZN |
865 |
171 |
252 |
|
LP |
301 |
197 |
53 |
|
MP |
43 |
9 |
34 |
|
NC |
57 |
43 |
14 |
|
NW |
293 |
233 |
60 |
|
WC |
36 |
35 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
3 668 |
653 |
695 |
|
Source: PEDs |
(a) Provincial Departments of Education ensure that all the necessary infrastructure provisions are made at the Host School to accommodate the additional learners and members of staff from the schools earmarked for closure or Re-aligned Schools.
(b) It is part of the process in the planning for the merger of schools that the learner transport needs are identified and referred to the relevant section for implementation when all the processes have been concluded. In cases where the function is with the Provincial Department of Transport (PDOT), the needs are submitted to PDOT for implementation.
(c) National School Nutrition Programme funds follow learners in merged schools.
(d) The Provincial Education Departments are also providing support to schools in terms of school finance. Funding for the school allocation follows the learners.