THERE has been widespread criticism, with educationists lambasting the government for shutting down more than 4,500 public schools over the past five years.
THERE has been widespread criticism, with educationists lambasting the government for shutting down more than 4500 public schools over the past five years.
The number of schools closed was revealed in two reports released by the Department of Basic Education between 2007 and 2009.
The reports were commissioned to establish information aimed largely at supporting both the national and provincial education departments.
The main reason cited for the mass shutdown of schools was a result of the migration of pupils from rural and township schools to urban ones because of the poor performance in the latter.
While the Gauteng education department blamed the closure on the "apartheid legacy", education experts blamed solely the government for this.
In a radio interview on Wednesday Gauteng education spokesman Charles Phahlane said: "What the department is dealing with now (closing of schools) is a legacy of apartheid."
Phahlane was unable to elaborate when pressed to explain this statement.
Yoliswa Dwane of Equal Education - a group that advocates for quality education in South African schools - said the education department's administration was failing in its duty to maintain the schools.
"The bussing in of learners from a nearby school to a faraway one is not a solution. It is poor parents and children who will suffer financial and emotional costs," she said.
Matakanye Matakanye of the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) - a body that represents teachers in more than 7000 schools - described the closing down of schools as an "utter waste" of public resources.
"By shutting down schools the government has diverted from its mandate of serving communities," he said.
SA Democratic Teachers Union spokeswoman Nomusa Cembi said the union was concerned about the closing down of schools.
"Main factors contributing to the closing down of schools have to do with pupils moving from township schools to urban schools. It is mainly township schools that suffer as a consequence," she said.
The DA's Gauteng education spokesman Khume Ramulifho said: "No one is being held responsible for this mess."
He said if teachers and principals continued not to be held accountable for under-performance, the government would continue to close more schools.
"We were baffled when the Gauteng education department requested more money to build more schools last year," Ramulifho said.
In order for struggling schools to prosper, new management, targets and performance assessments needed to be employed, Ramulifho said.
"Where schools are built next to each other, the government must close one school and convert the other into a library." Ramulifho said.
State blasted for closing down schools
THERE has been widespread criticism, with educationists lambasting the government for shutting down more than 4,500 public schools over the past five years.
THERE has been widespread criticism, with educationists lambasting the government for shutting down more than 4500 public schools over the past five years.
The number of schools closed was revealed in two reports released by the Department of Basic Education between 2007 and 2009.
The reports were commissioned to establish information aimed largely at supporting both the national and provincial education departments.
The main reason cited for the mass shutdown of schools was a result of the migration of pupils from rural and township schools to urban ones because of the poor performance in the latter.
While the Gauteng education department blamed the closure on the "apartheid legacy", education experts blamed solely the government for this.
In a radio interview on Wednesday Gauteng education spokesman Charles Phahlane said: "What the department is dealing with now (closing of schools) is a legacy of apartheid."
Phahlane was unable to elaborate when pressed to explain this statement.
Yoliswa Dwane of Equal Education - a group that advocates for quality education in South African schools - said the education department's administration was failing in its duty to maintain the schools.
"The bussing in of learners from a nearby school to a faraway one is not a solution. It is poor parents and children who will suffer financial and emotional costs," she said.
Matakanye Matakanye of the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) - a body that represents teachers in more than 7000 schools - described the closing down of schools as an "utter waste" of public resources.
"By shutting down schools the government has diverted from its mandate of serving communities," he said.
SA Democratic Teachers Union spokeswoman Nomusa Cembi said the union was concerned about the closing down of schools.
"Main factors contributing to the closing down of schools have to do with pupils moving from township schools to urban schools. It is mainly township schools that suffer as a consequence," she said.
The DA's Gauteng education spokesman Khume Ramulifho said: "No one is being held responsible for this mess."
He said if teachers and principals continued not to be held accountable for under-performance, the government would continue to close more schools.
"We were baffled when the Gauteng education department requested more money to build more schools last year," Ramulifho said.
In order for struggling schools to prosper, new management, targets and performance assessments needed to be employed, Ramulifho said.
"Where schools are built next to each other, the government must close one school and convert the other into a library." Ramulifho said.
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