Education
(a) What category of school is the Voor-Groenberg Primary School in Wellington, (b) what is the likelihood of the closing of the school on 31 December 2020, (c) what were the particulars of the community participation pertaining to the possible closing of the school and (d) what criteria are used to determine whether a school will be closed?
(a) Voor-Groenberg Primary is classified as a micro school according to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) Guidelines for the Rationalisation and Re-alignment of Public Schools, February 2018 – i.e. a school that is below the minimum threshold of a small school which is 135 learners.
(b) The submission has been prepared and is en route to my office for consideration.
(c) The Public Notice letter was sent and received by the SGB on 24 August 2020.
Public Notice boards were printed in 3 different languages (English, Afrikaans and Xhosa) and were put up two weeks before the public hearing date at the school office, school gate, local library, Spar Supermarket, Shoprite and a local convenient store where the community shop.
The public hearing was held on 15 October 2020 at Voor-Groenberg Primary School.
(d) I will apply my mind according to the policy and guidelines, taking into consideration the public participation process.
The following extract, from the DBE Guidelines for the Rationalisation and Re-alignment of Public Schools, February 2018 refers:
“Following the problems associated with micro schools, the Department of Basic Education assessed means by which quality education could be provided in an affordable manner in the immediate and long-term. This led to a need to consider closing down some of the micro schools and merge them with other schools, doing so after extensive technical assessments and inclusive stakeholder consultations have been carried out. This would be done as part of the School Rationalisation and Re-alignment Process.”
