School rationalisation and re-alignment programme gains momentum

A plan by the Eastern Cape department of education to change the current school configuration in the former Transkei region through holding public hearings for ‘schools rationalisation and re-alignment’ programme started smoothly at the Engcobo education district.

These provincially public hearings which will culminate in the ‘phasing out’ of the current mixed schooling system in the region. The system presently used by this region has led to mixed schooling as primary schools would be clubbed with secondary school classes leading to huge primary schools starting from Grade R to Grade 9.

As if that is not enough, the current scenario in most instances is that an area with ten schools would consist of nine primary schools feeding one senior secondary school which starts at grade ten to twelve. Now, such arrangement leads to overcrowding and poor performance by learners as the learner teacher ratio is excessively high.

The rationalisation and re-alignment programme then allows local communities to participate towards a schooling system which is guided by the state and in compliance with the set norms and standards being used country wide. These norms and standards propose that only two school prototypes must be used one for primary schools whilst the other is for the secondary schools.

Rationalisation public hearings

The rationalisation and re-alignment provincial co-ordinator, Nozuko Mthwa confirmed that all necessary consultation processes have been followed before the hearing to avoid any commotion with the Provincial Education Labour Relations Council (PELRC) stakeholders. “The rationalisation programme was presented to all education stakeholders. Subsequently, all Quality Teaching and Learning Campaign (QTLC) stakeholders were also consulted about the programme”, said Mthwa.

The current hearings are meant at creating a platform for stakeholders to voice their views on the provincial education system. Additionally, in these hearings participants include, but not limited to the stakeholders forming part of the district education forum who are the representatives from the House of Traditional Leaders, Council of Churches, local businesses, teacher unions, school governing bodies, principals and locals.

Since the route is based on S12 (a) and S33 of the South African Schools Act, all due processes culminate in the implementation of the agreed upon system in the 2013 academic year.  Just after the hearings led by the education MEC Mandla Makupula are finished, the district should establish its district task team led by the district director that will consult with communities. The consultation by the task team is required to be finished within 90 days after the public hearing led by the MEC. Legislatively, the process is required to come up with a solid proposal in line the regulations that will be tabled to the MEC.

Once all the submissions by the districts have been tabled, the MEC’s task team is required to pronounce through the PELRC. The entire process is part of planning and preparation to be implemented in the 2013 academic year.

Re-alignment

Since the school configuration in this region is out of the alignment proposed by the Council of Education Ministers (CEM). The proposed alignment has two prototypes that are either a primary or a secondary and should be as follows:

  • A normal primary starts at Grade R - 7
  • A secondary school would start at Grade 8 - 12

Whilst the public hearings are planned to take place in all the education districts, Makupula urged all stakeholders to ‘prioritise the learners’ of the province when dealing with the whole issue of rationalisation and re-alignment of schools. “The stability of education in our province depends on the communities, therefore let’s all unite and use the upcoming policy conference of the ruling party not to create new policies but rather review all those that hamper the delivery of quality education to our schools”, urged Makupula.

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