DA wants GDE to track learner enrolment

In a press release received from the DA, Gauteng shadow education MEC Khume Ramulifho says the motion was submitted to the Gauteng Legislature on Wednesday.

Gauteng schools experienced almost 100 000 learner drop-outs – 70 000 in secondary schools and 23 000 in primary schools last year.

Only 2 000 schools used the South African School Administration Management System (SA SAMS), budgeted at R18-million, to provide learner data to the national learner tracking system.

Despite this 2014/15 target, only 1 025 schools are currently able to track learner transfers.

He claims the assumption that most learners who drop out then enrol at FET colleges, is both insensitive and can be avoided.

“Learner enrolment at FET colleges doesn’t correspond with the high number of learners who have dropped out,” he says.

“It is imperative that Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) MEC Panyaza Lesufi and his department make it compulsory for all learners in Gauteng to register their South African identity numbers with the department at the beginning of each school year, starting from the earliest grade of enrolment.”

Khume says if the GDE creates a database with learner’s ID numbers, it will allow for effective tracking of learners throughout their school careers.

This system will monitor drop-out rates and ensure effective measures to prevent drop-outs, which will lead to improved learner retention and prevent fraud through the artificial inflation of school numbers.