Bogus private schools in Midrand concerns Gauteng Education MEC
Acting Chief Director Mmule Madonsela says the department fully supports private schools as long as they are fully compliant.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane is concerned with some illegal private schools operating in Midrand.
Chiloane said such bogus schools were prevalent in the Midrand area and were disruptive to the Department of Education’s teaching and learning process, including the administration of learners per school.
Last year alone, three private schools were closed by the department after they were found not to be fully registered with the department.
Kids Milestone Primary School and Crowthorne Christian Academy were both found not to have been fully registered with the department in July and August respectively. New World Institute (NWI) then followed suit as it was also closed by the department in November last year. Some of the learners from NWI were placed at Crowthorne’s Midlands Primary and High School.
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When asked by the paper about such schools, Chiloane said, “I agree, the illegal schools are a big concern, especially in this area [Midrand]. I know we have closed down a couple of them last year [2023]. And they do disturb the department because now when we close them down, take those learners into our public education system. This is a number that we did not prepare for.”
Acting chief director Mmule Madonsela added that the department is not against any independent schools, but they needed to ensure that the schools comply.
“And as the department we are prepared to help those schools to fully register and comply. They do have to comply by all means and if they do not apply, then we fail in our responsibility to ensure that we guard against the interest of those learners and parents alike. Especially in this economic downturn and where we can’t afford parents to be abused by people who do not want to comply,” said Madonsela.
She said the department is not against independent schools but supports them, provided they are fully compliant.
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