Education
What is the number of unplaced learners for the 2021 academic year at the latest date for which information is available for (a) primary schools and (b) high school per quintile;
(2) whether any measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools that parents will be visiting for late applications; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether the practice of non-fee-paying schools in the province that are demanding voluntary school fund contributions from parents has been bought to her attention; if so, (a) what are the relevant details, (b) what steps have been taken to stop this practice and (c) what action has been taken or will be taken against the guilty schools; if not, whether she will investigate the matter;
(4) whether it has been bought to her attention that certain non-fee-paying schools in the province refuse to admit learners or withhold their reports if they fail to pay the voluntary school fund contributions; if so, what are the relevant details; if not, whether she will investigate the matter;
(5) whether she or her Department has received complaints from parents and/or teachers regarding the practice of demanding voluntary school fund contributions; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) how were these complaints resolved?
NOTE: Parents apply to more than 1 school (Max 10). The schools they apply to are in different quintiles, hence the WCED is unable to specify the number of schools per quintile. The numbers outstanding reflect ALL applications, which can be up to 10 per child, so they are not connected to a particular quintile.
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| GR1 - | |
Cape Winelands | 155 | 33 | 28 | 33 | 31 | 24 | 17 | 424 | 84 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 857 |
Eden and Central Karoo | 161 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 344 | 14 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 603 |
Metro Central | 162 | 25 | 16 | 21 | 13 | 24 | 14 | 1.023 | 57 | 41 | 8 | 2 | 1 406 |
Metro East | 1 316 | 287 | 165 | 137 | 92 | 101 | 45 | 1 865 | 127 | 139 | 40 | 10 | 4.324 |
Metro North | 436 | 36 | 15 | 105 | 32 | 59 | 25 | 1 323 | 147 | 127 | 25 | 0 | 2.330 |
Metro South | 556 | 97 | 76 | 101 | 68 | 45 | 24 | 1 570 | 136 | 244 | 49 | 7 | 2.973 |
Overberg | 22 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 113 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 169 |
West Coast | 70 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 105 | 36 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 279 |
Total | 2 878 | 508 | 318 | 412 | 253 | 259 | 139 | 6 767 | 612 | 634 | 139 | 22 | 12 941 |
(2) All schools are required to adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols which include the screening of visitors and controlled access to the school premises and district offices. This must be managed by the school principals. Most schools have finalised admissions for 2021 during 2020 and this should limit admissions queries at most schools. Individual schools where this may be a challenge will manage access in line with the directions and guidance provided by the national minister and the WCED. Parents who need additional places are also directed to district offices for assistance where the same protocols are in place and officials assist parents by contacting schools to identify and find places. Email and telephonic systems have been put in place to deal with queries without having physical contact.
(3) A contribution cannot be considered “voluntary” if it is “demanded” from a parent. My office has received some complaints in this regard, which are immediately referred to the relevant district office for resolution. We continue to encourage parents to notify the district office should such “contributions” be “demanded”. There is, however, no prohibition on requesting voluntary contributions.
(4) Schools may not withhold reports owing to non-payment of school fees.
I have publicly stated that schools cannot withhold a report card because of non-payment of school fees, and certainly not for the non-payment of “contributions” at a no-fee school. Parents are to report such demands and behaviour to their district office so that we can investigate. Whenever my office receives a complaint of this nature, we refer it immediately to the relevant district for them to resolve the matter.
If parents can contribute towards a fund at a school, then they are welcome to do so, however, the payment of such voluntary contributions must not affect the receipt of report cards at all. Any allegations that this is not being adhered to will be investigated.
(5) This is a duplication of question (3) above.
