Non-Viable Schools In KwaZulu-Natal
Back in May, rumours began circulating that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Education Department would be closing down several schools that did not meet the minimum norms and standards to be classified as viable.
Reasons a school may be classified as non-viable include low learner enrolment, schools being built on private land and violent incidents at some schools.
In South Africa, the minimum norms and requirements for public schools classify schools with less than 135 enrolled learners in primary schools, and less than 200 enrolled learners in high schools as not meeting the minimum requirements and therefore non-viable. These schools are typically shut down as running them with such low learner attendance is costly.
However, the KZN Department responded by stating that they would be focusing their efforts on closing down schools with less than 50 learners in primary schools and less than 100 learners in secondary schools respectively.
Most pupils attend schools as close to their homes as possible as transportation can become expensive. In rural areas, the financial implications may be too great for parents and guardians, preventing learners from receiving an education.
Solutions For Non-Viable Schools
The Department reported that there are 967 small and non-viable schools in the province. A phased-in approach will be taken over multiple years to accommodate the learners who may face challenges with scholar transport.
The first stage will focus on small and misaligned schools, where transport is not required. Following this will be the targeted 255 schools of the 967 during the 2023/24 financial year.
This includes 185 small primary schools that have been identified with less than 50 learners, and 70 secondary schools that have been identified with less than 100 learners.
The Department emphasises that no schools where transport is required will be closed or merged until transport arrangements have been finalised, so as not to financially burden parents.
The KZN Teacher Shortage
Despite the Department of Basic Education (DBE) continuously slamming claims and criticising data regarding the looming teacher shortage, many of our schools are understaffed.
With more than half of South African teachers expected to retire by 2030, the country is expected to face a dire teacher shortage in the coming years. Other teachers leave the profession due to terrible conditions at many schools and concerns about their safety. This leaves many rural and poorer schools with a high pupil to teacher ratio due to overcrowding.
Each year, the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Education is required to create educator posts based on available funds. The Head of Department is then required to distribute the posts created to schools using the post provisioning norms.
