Eyewitness News: Education Department admits failure

Carmel Loggenberg | 12 September 2012

CAPE TOWN - The Basic Education Department on Wednesday admitted it failed to efficiently deal with so-called “inappropriate schools”.

Almost 500 such institutions have been identified nationwide.

Most have been deemed inappropriate for teaching and learning due to infrastructure problems.

Many are located in the Eastern Cape, where there is a considerable backlog in improvements.

Basic Education Deputy Director General Shunhugam Padayachee said, “We are more than disappointed with our performance.”

The department has also come under fire for failing to deliver textbooks to Limpopo pupils.

Some learners in the province are yet to receive books.

Meanwhile, Congress of the South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and several other groups have announced they will be marching to both the Western Cape Legislature and Parliament this weekend.

They are protesting against the proposed closure of 27 schools in the province.

The institutions have been identified for possible decommissions due to either poor performance or dwindling numbers.

Cosatu and lobby group Equal Education say they expect thousands of people to participate in the march.

The federation’s Tony Ehrenreich says they plan to fight closures until an agreement is reached.

Equal Education has indicated it is worried about overcrowding at other institutions, should all the closures be implemented.

Public hearings on the issue have been concluded and Education MEC Donald Grant is expected to make a final decision by the end of September or early October.

Up to 4,000 pupils may be affected.

(Edited by Lindiwe Mlandu)

On Air

Latest Bulletin

Latest Traffic report

Weather

19°C / -2°C

Thu 21°C -2°C

Fri 21°C 0°C

Sat 20°C -1°C

Sun 20°C -2°C

Mon 19°C -2°C

Tue 19°C -2°C

16°C / 12°C

Thu 17°C 10°C

Fri 17°C 9°C

Sat 16°C 10°C

Sun 17°C 9°C

Mon 17°C 10°C

Tue 17°C 11°C

27°C / 7°C

Thu 24°C 9°C

Fri 23°C 9°C

Sat 23°C 12°C

Sun 21°C 11°C

Mon 25°C 11°C

Tue 25°C 10°C

18°C / 11°C

Thu 20°C 8°C

Fri 25°C 10°C

Sat 20°C 8°C

Sun 17°C 7°C

Mon 21°C 8°C

Tue 20°C 9°C

18°C / 2°C

Thu 21°C 2°C

Fri 22°C 2°C

Sat 20°C 3°C

Sun 20°C 2°C

Mon 18°C 0°C

Tue 19°C 4°C

23°C / 6°C

Thu 25°C 7°C

Fri 24°C 9°C

Sat 27°C 11°C

Sun 23°C 10°C

Mon 23°C 10°C

Tue 25°C 11°C

17°C / 13°C

Thu 17°C 10°C

Fri 22°C 6°C

Sat 18°C 6°C

Sun 18°C 6°C

Mon 19°C 6°C

Tue 18°C 7°C

17°C / 12°C

Thu 17°C 9°C

Fri 24°C 13°C

Sat 17°C 10°C

Sun 19°C 10°C

Mon 21°C 12°C

Tue 19°C 11°C

19°C / 3°C

Thu 22°C 5°C

Fri 24°C 5°C

Sat 22°C 4°C

Sun 23°C 3°C

Mon 19°C 3°C

Tue 20°C 4°C

21°C / 2°C

Thu 23°C 2°C

Fri 22°C 3°C

Sat 23°C 3°C

Sun 23°C 5°C

Mon 22°C 4°C

Tue 22°C 4°C

17°C / 12°C

Thu 17°C 8°C

Fri 18°C 8°C

Sat 16°C 8°C

Sun 17°C 8°C

Mon 18°C 8°C

Tue 18°C 9°C

18°C / -2°C

Thu 21°C 0°C

Fri 21°C 0°C

Sat 20°C 0°C

Sun 18°C -1°C

Mon 18°C -2°C

Tue 20°C -1°C