Education
(a) How many learners have not been placed at schools at the latest date for which information is available, (b) how does this affect learners’ academic progress and (c) what measures are being taken to accommodate these learners?
(a) According to our records, 110 learners are not currently accommodated at schools. There will always be a number of learners that are unplaced at any given time, as a result of relocations to new areas and the need to accommodate them.
The 2018 School Realities Report puts the situation into perspective. From 2016 – 2018 learner numbers in the Eastern Cape decreased by 120 000 learners, whereas, in the Western Cape, our overall numbers increased by over 24 000 learners. The increase in numbers in the Western Cape is largely due to inward migration of learners from other Provinces such as the Eastern Cape, placing a lot of strain on the system.
(b) Schools are aware that any learner enrolling late in the year is to be provided with additional support and catch-up programmes and materials. Affected schools will adjust curriculum and assessment programmes to maximise lost time and to allow for catch up programmes.
(c) WCED officials have worked tirelessly to ensure that all learners are placed in 2019.
The last few remaining unplaced cases are late applications, (mainly re-location cases), where parents have had to re-locate and still now require a place.
There are also some areas where the schools are oversubscribed. One such area is Delft. The WCED has allocated additional resources and classrooms to be procured for 2020 to accommodate future needs. 2 additional gr 8 classes were also opened at Rosendaal High School at the end of Term two to accommodate more learners who needed places. The opening of a new school and one other planned mobile school in Delft will also assist for 2020.
• The WCED opened 42 additional classes in 2018.
• 62 Mobile classes were procured and delivered.
• Dedicated officials assist parents with placement.
• Learners who started late are assisted with a catch-up programme
• Affected schools adjust curriculum and assessment programmes to maximise lost time and to allow for catch up programmes
The reality is, though, that inadequate budget allocation over years now, is catching up with us, and we are anticipating more severe cuts in the next few years, which will exacerbate the crisis.
