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Cosatu slams schools closures

North West farm schools are being closed without consultation with the farming communities, the Congress of SA Trade Unions said yesterday.

North West farm schools are being closed without consultation with the farming communities, the Congress of SA Trade Unions said yesterday.

"Cosatu condemns the attitude of the North West education department for its radical decision to close farm schools," said provincial secretary Solly Phetoe.

In recent months the union federation, together with other civil society organisations, had been visiting farms in an attempt to stop the closure of schools.

"It is clear that schools on the farms are not protected. It cannot be correct for the department to close schools on farms without consulting farm communities and the children, and knowing very well that they will not provide transport to other schools for them," said Phetoe.

Teachers were working within a poor infrastructure and under bad health and safety conditions.

"To close schools and to transfer teachers and pupils to other schools at a time when children are preparing for final exams cannot be right," said Phetoe.

Provincial spokesman for the department of education, Charles Raseala, was not available for comment. -Sapa

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