Hoernle Primary School in Rockville, Jabavu has taken its matter about the closing of their school against the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to the High Court of South Africa.
According to the principal of the school, Mzimkhulu Hlalukana, the GDE sent a circular back in 2013 stating that the school should be closed.
In June this year, the feeding scheme for the school that is dominated by learners who are either orphans and come from impoverished homes was closed.
The principal explained the department want the school closed because they claim that the number of learners is dwindling, but we are operational.
Hlalukana said, “They want the school to close but it has been active, and it is about to be examination time.”
On November 4 the principal explained that the school needs the feeding scheme and stationery for exams set to start on November 7.
He said, “If the department does not deliver we will have to postpone the exams to the other week.”
On September 19 the court ordered the following;
• That the feeding scheme be re-instated at Hoernle Primary School within a week of receiving the order.
• GDE to deliver its annual allocation of textbooks, workbooks and stationery within 14 days of receiving the order.
• GDE to pay Hoernle the annual resource allocation for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 within 14 days of receiving the order and to continue paying the annual resource allocation.
• Process the application for employment of educators listed in the staff list annexure as temporary staff.
• Pay monthly salaries to the staff that has been taken on as per 2.3 or already on the system of the Department of Education staff of Hoernle in accordance with the post level and guidelines.
GDE did not comply nor meet these conditions and on October 23 appealed the judgement and are still waiting for the court date. Hoernle went to court again on November 4 after the GDE did not show compliance.
The spokesperson for GDE Oupa Bodibe said, “Hoernle Primary School was set to be closed and merged with Jabavu primary
due to dwindling numbers of learners in 2013. By then, the school had only 37 learners in all grades.”
Bodibe explained that, “Some teachers were against the department’s decision and decided to remain in the school. Legally the school is merged with Jabavu Primary School, which is why the department has decided to stop their feeding scheme as they are operating illegally.”
According to Bodibe, the department has noted the court’s judgement to reinstate all the school’s benefits such as annual school grants, feeding scheme and also to pay their educators. The ruling of the court will decide the fate of the school.
