Education
With reference to her reply to question 3 of 18 March 2022:
(1) Whether any Western Cape special needs schools qualify to be no-fee schools; (a) if so, (i) what are the criteria that have to be met by these schools and (b) how many of these schools qualify; (b) if not, (i) why not and (ii) is there any funding available to change these schools into no-fee schools;
(2) what is the average amount needed by the Western Cape Education Department to run a special needs school?
[1] All of the 74 special schools in the Western Cape receive the same funding as schools categorised in quintile 2, and are thus no-fee schools. In addition to this base funding, they receive funds based on the weighting for that disability category. For example, a learner with a physical disability at a special school receives 4 times the amount per learner at a quintile 2 school.
The schools can, however, charge school fees – which is determined by the School Governing Body.
[a] Not applicable.
[b] [i] All special schools receive the same funding model of a base funding equivalent to quintile 2 and based on their disability category.
There is currently a national DBE task team investigating a revised funding model for Special Schools.
[ii] All special schools receive the same funding model of a base funding equivalent to quintile 2 and based on their disability category. Any additional funding would be dependent on WCED budget availability.
Schools vary in terms of their disability category, school size, learner weightings. On average special needs school costs approximately R17 million to run, with approximately R15 million used for Compensation of Employees and about R2 million in Norms and Standards funding.
