GDE concerned about misleading reports that “MEC Lesufi wants school powers”
30 September 2015
The Gauteng Department of Education has noted with great concern certain media reports which suggest that the Gauteng MEC for Education Mr Panyaza Lesufi, wants powers to regulate school admissions and enforce language policies in all Gauteng public schools.
These media reports are incorrect, misleading and malicious. Following the hosting of a successful Provincial Education Summit, the Chairperson of the Gauteng Education Portfolio Committee Mr Joe Mpisi and MEC Lesufi, called the media to brief them on the outcome and recommendations of the summit.
The Chairperson reported that during the summit, delegates representing a wide range of education stakeholders in the province were divided into 5 Commissions. One of these commissions dealt with the issue of the South African Schools Act and Governing Body Associations.
Participants in this commission expressed concerns about the powers given to SGBs about admissions, language policy, recruitment and selection of educators and SMT, Religious policy and code of conduct of learners. The commission therefore recommended that the MEC must be given powers by law, to regulate language and admission policies.
In yesterday’s media briefing, the Chairperson was reporting back on inputs made by the commission on the review of the South African Schools Act and emphasised that communities would be consulted all the way.
To then suggest that the MEC wants powers to dictate or enforce the admission of learners in public schools and enforce language policies is malicious and misleading.
The MEC strongly upholds democratic values and principle of the Constitution, which prescribes that everyone has the right to basic education and that everyone has the right to receive education in the official language or languages of their choice in public education institutions, where that education is reasonably practicable. The MEC will therefore not act in any manner or take any particular posture that suggests the violation of the Constitution.
Statement issued by the Gauteng Department of Education, 30 September 2015
