COSATU and 27 affected schools are to hold a press conference on Wednesday 20th June 2012 at 11h00 at CTPA offices at No 85 Kasselsvlei Road Bellville South.
The threat by the Provincial Government to close 27 schools is an indication of the high handed manner in which the Provincial Government treats the interest of working class black learners. There is no clear policy in place to define schools that must close, and our insistence is that a policy is defined in conjunction with communities and teachers, that apply to all schools. The present system seeks to close mainly black schools with declining numbers, but leave open mainly white schools with declining numbers.
The reasons given by the Dept of Education for the schools closures are entirely knee-jerk reactions, without an examination of the facts in the schools. Many schools have seen high failure levels in English due to the school population changing to mainly African Xhosa speaking learners, who struggle with English as a first language. With the changing of the language to Xhosa the results will improve, as indicated at other schools, but it seems the Provincial Government wants to perpetuate separate development.
The short sightedness of MEC Grant has already ruined the education of so many black learners and we again will call for his removal. He in this instance again demonstrates his prejudice against black learners, by his support for farmers who want to close the farm schools.
MEC Grant has failed to put up a viable plan to deal with gangsterism in schools, which is completely destroying the culture of teaching and learning. The press conference will also outline proposals to deal with the gang crisis, as MEC Grant is just perpetuating the arrogance of Premier Zille in refusing to engage with communities to find solutions. The MEC still thinks the white heroes who poisoned our communities are the only ones that can propose solutions.
This education department and MEC Grant has very little regard for black learners, as they never call for equality in schools in respect of resources and facilities , between schools in Claremont and the schools in Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain, when the distinction seems to be mainly colour for the resources at schools then the reasons must border on racism, the more sophisticated kind of racism that defends the generational advantage of the white population in the City and Province. This inequality also sees teachers at poor black schools working twice as hard as teachers in rich mainly white schools, who have double the resources and half the pupil numbers.
We will outline our detailed proposals for the alternatives to the school closures at the meeting as well as our plans to ensure equality across all schools. The schools will be present speaking to their needs and the churches will also be at the press conference in support of stopping the school closures, in an ad hoc manner.
We know that the Province is trying to close these schools by stealth, as when they announce that they are going to close a school, parents start transferring their kids to other schools , which effectively achieves the department's objectives. They are also closing schools to accommodate the new schools built with teacher numbers, but the question remains, how schools can be closed when so many schools are overcrowded in poor areas.
We need a grand plan that speaks to the needs of black working class schools, as their problems have been neglected as white Government bureaucrats from model C schools have no idea on the solutions. Black schools are not a priority to a government that cares mainly for the needs of the old white schools , and tries to blame the black schools for the systemic problems caused by the Provincial Government.
We are going to oppose any closures until a legitimate fair process if followed, and should Zille persist in allowing MEC Grant to continue with a line she approves of, this matter will bring her Administration down. We will protest in defence of our children and will take this unfairness to the highest courts. We are prepared to enter a process of negotiations during the holidays to find solutions to this crisis.
Statement issued by COSATU Western Cape Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, June 19 2012
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