It would be a sad day in the history of our democracy if the Gauteng Department of Education went ahead with its plans to close under-performing schools.

It would be a sad day in the history of our democracy if the Gauteng Department of Education went ahead with its plans to close under-performing schools.

I do not believe shutting down a school is a solution; not for the community, not for the Department of Education, and not for the future of the poor pupils.

Such a drastic step would only serve to exacerbate overcrowding and grossly inequitable teacher-pupil ratios.

This would, in turn, have a negative effect on the throughput of betterperforming schools because there will be a mass exodus of students to other schools from the closed ones.

It is high time the department focused on under-performing and corrupt officials accountable for the decline in quality, standards and moral fibre in our schools.

It is absurd that the department expects dispirited and underpaid teachers to perform miracles under appalling conditions.

It appears that the department is completely oblivious of the fact that what it calls "under-performance" is the result of and a reflection of under-performance in the department itself.

Before the department considers closing under-performing schools, it must do what is right before destroying careers and lives of children for the sake of maintaining a false positive image.

Mlungisi Mzila, Tshwane