National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (NAPTOSA) provincial chairperson, Yasierah Adonis, said the primary purpose of the oversight visit was to assess the state-of-schooling and the state-of-readiness for the NSC Examinations 2024. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng/African News Agency (ANA)
Cape Town - The portfolio committee on basic education said it would be calling for an urgent meeting with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), following unsatisfactory site visits to several schools in the province.
The committee said it concluded its week-long oversight visit to Western Cape schools on Friday.
The schools visited were Walter Teka Primary (Nyanga); Joe Slovo High (Khayelitsha); Rosendaal High (Delft); Batavia School of Skills (Lansdowne); Witsand Primary (Atlantis); Morrisdale Primary (Ceres); Zwelethemba High (Worcester); and Brackenfell High (Brackenfell).
Particular concerns related to racial inequity at Brackenfell High School were raised.
Committee chairperson, Joy Maimela, said: “We visited schools in the townships, farming areas and suburbs. The glaring disparities in education and infrastructure in the province are unbelievable. It is even more concerning that we have been requesting information from the WCED on Wednesday and received nothing up to now.”
The committee said the language policy (English and Afrikaans as primary languages) in many schools visited, was a barrier for historically disadvantaged learners who did not speak these languages.
The committee said it expressed frustration to the school management of Brackenfell High School over its “unfounded claim of diversity” and that despite claims of inclusivity, the demographics had shown that 90% of learners were white.
The committee also said it was surprised that schools made the final determination of Grade-1 and Grade-8 learners although applications are made online on a WCED portal.
The committee said it was “appalled” by the situation at Zwelethemba High School, stating that its management system was in disarray.
The committee said the school couldn’t get support needed from the WCED and had insufficient learner support materials such as books.
“It is October and learners across the grades do not have textbooks.
“You took the school over completely as a public school, but you want the School Governing Body to buy textbooks,” Maimela said.
National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (NAPTOSA) provincial chairperson, Yasierah Adonis, said the primary purpose of the oversight visit was to assess the state-of-schooling and the state-of-readiness for the NSC Examinations 2024.
“NAPTOSA WC understands the importance of the portfolio committee, the rationale behind oversight.
“However, there were instances where the portfolio committee and provincial government did not find one another, this when it came to certain policies and the manner in which it was implemented.”
Education MEC, David Maynier, said the department would be submitting a formal complaint to the House chairperson in the National Assembly, Cedric Frolick, over the committee’s conduct during the oversight visits.
“I am concerned by the conduct of the chairperson, Joy Maimela, and some members of the portfolio committee on basic education during their visit to the Western Cape.
“The chairperson appears to approach these visits not as an opportunity to conduct oversight, but rather to behave like the class bully, driving division and a political agenda,” Maynier said.
“Some committee members belittled and demeaned officials and school staff, in stark contrast to the members of the standing committee in the provincial parliament who, even when asking the tough questions, treat officials and school staff with courtesy and respect.”
shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za
Cape Argus