DA SUPPORTS SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES ON ADMISSIONS

Gauteng MEC for Education Barbara Creecy wants to determine how many pupils a school can take, as demonstrated by the current legal battle between the Department of Education and the Rivonia Primary School. The school claims that officials forcefully placed a Grade 1 pupil despite the school's insistence that it was full.

According to section 5 of the SA Schools Act, the School Governing Body (SGB) has the power to determine admission, but Creecy has proposed an amendment that allows the department to place more pupils at a school if it believes the school can fit them in.

The Democratic Alliance supports admission policy amendments only if they empower SGBs and do not reduce their current powers.

The DA will study proposed amendments regarding the role of SGBs in school admission policy.

The DA believes that schools should be structured for improved maximum performance and SGBs play an important role in governing schools.

The Education Department is supposed to support schools by focusing on resources allocation, talented teachers and adequate school infrastructure. The Education MEC should know by now that a healthy learning environment depends on respect for legitimate authority.

Creecy must respect a SGB decision as per the current law, and should not take away existing powers.

The DA supports SGBs which focus on school performance and operate in accordance with the constitution.

Statement issued by Khume Ramulifho, MPL, DA Gauteng Education Spokesperson, June 28 2011

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