Limpopo’s underperforming schools to be merged

SEKHUKHUNE

Limpopo Department of Basic Education announced its intention to rationalise 389 non-viable schools in the province last week. This means that 344 of the 389 schools will be merged, while the remaining 45 schools will be closed for good. This is the fourth time that the department has rationalised schools in the province. Previosly, mergers have been initiated three times: in 2008, 2013 and 2017.
Some of the reasons for rationalisation include multi-grade teaching, schools not economically viable to maintain and schools whose learner enrolment is below 135 (for primary schools) and 200 (for secondary schools).
Addressing education stakeholders in Polokwane, the MEC for Education, Ms Polly Boshielo, said: “Our engagement today and beyond on our intention to rationalise schools must be viewed as taking the responsibility of ensuring that we invest in the education of our children to afford them the opportunity to excel on the world stage.”
Boshielo called for serious cooperation and collaboration to ensure that the department works together with stakeholders to reorganise schools to increase efficiency and reduce waste.
The list of schools to be rationalised will be published soon. The department will carry out public consultations and stakeholders have 90 days to give their input.
“These are schools that are unable to deliver on their core mandate which includes curriculum delivery. We have to take the responsibility of ensuring that we invest in the education of our children to afford them the opportunity to excel on the world stage,” said Boshielo.