Education
1. (a) Why are the learners of the Sao Bras High School, Mossel Bay, who live in the school hostel compelled to leave the hostel on weekends and (b) what is her Department’s policy in this regard;
(2) whether there is any policy or guidelines with which the hostels section of schools must comply; if not, why not; if so, what the policy or guidelines entail?
[1] [a] The school took the decision to close the hostel over weekends due to financial constraints.
[b] In terms of the School Hostel Manual, Governing Bodies are required to consult with parents on whether to close hostels over weekends.
[2] Yes, Hostels are managed in terms of the Western Cape Provincial School Education Act, [Act 12 of 1997]. Regulations relating to the Management and Control of Hostels at Public Schools and the Immovable Property and Equipment of Hostels under the Western Cape Education Department gazetted in Extraordinary Provincial Gazette 7066 of 28 November 2012. The regulations include sections on the:
- Establishment of hostels
- Closing of hostels
- Basic infrastructure requirements
- Governance and management of hostels at public schools
- Authority and general functions of Head of Department
- Roles and responsibilities of district officers
- Functions of governing bodies
- Composition and term of office of hostel committee
- Meetings of hostel committee
- Functions of hostel committee
- Maintenance of hostel facilities
- Management and control of immovable property and equipment
- Financial and asset management
- Annual budget
- Funding and hostel subsidies
- Admission to hostels
- Learner’s behaviour and discipline at hostels
- Health inspection of hostels
- Medical examinations of learners and administration of medication
- Short title and date of commencement
In addition schools use a hostel manual that guides them in hostel administration and governance.
