Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi shut down two schools in Midrand
IVORY PARK – Learners who were taken out of the illegal schools in Ivory Park and Ebony Park to be placed in new schools.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi and the Ivory Park police threatened to close down two schools on 8 October which were found to have been operating illegally.
Lesufi, accompanied by the Ivory Park police, City of Johannesburg Council officials and the Gauteng Department of Education officials visited one school in Ivory Park and another located in Ebony Park.
Lesufi added that the department had previously visited the area to close schools that were not properly registered. “But then, we came alone as the department and advised parents to take their children out an enrol them into the public education system. But because the academic programme is too heavy there, some of the children did revert back to these schools and the schools reopened again.
“We then asked the schools to comply within a specified period – to rectify their documents, to ensure that their teachers are qualified and registered with the South African Council of Educators because you cannot operate as a teacher in this country if you are not registered. Ensure that the municipality gives you the proper documentation so that you can operate the school.
“[Today, 8 October] we are giving them 48 hours, so that we can take a decision to shut down the schools or not.”
Lesufi concluded that if the schools are closed down, the learners would have to be enrolled by the department into government schools.
Director for Independent Schools, Masibudi Makubela also told the schools that they need to supply an analysis of their learners, documentation for fire, health, occupation and zoning.
Makubela confirmed on 12 October that the schools were shut down. “After meeting with the learners’ parents, we finalised the school closures – it has been official, we are also working on the placements for the learners.”
She said that learners are from a number of areas and they will have to work with other district directors to find placements for them. An internal meeting was arranged for 14 October to discuss this. “We will open an admission centre to place the learners and make sure their language and curriculum needs are met.”
