South Africa: Limpopo Education MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, has applauded stakeholders and all the affected parties for the robust and fruitful engagements on the Rationalisation of schools in all the education districts of the province.
The fourth phase of merging schools commenced on Tuesday in Waterberg. The two Vhembe education districts had the last bite in a consultative meeting held at the Makhado EMPC.
The MEC has pronounced the Rationalisation of three hundred and forty four (344) schools into two hundred and eighteen (218) identified merging centres.
The proposed merger will affect 71 786 and 2 337 educators across the province. Vhembe has the highest number of schools earmarked for the merger, seventy-seven (77) in Vhembe East and thirty in Vhembe West. Forty-five schools will be closed after the finalisation of the merger.
The MEC has commended stakeholders who are embracing the proposed change for the benefit of the learners, who will enjoy more individual attention as they will have adequate and qualified educators.
It will also come as a relief to educators who have a burdened workload. The merger will also assist in ensuring that the schools have the capacity to deliver the curriculum of streams and subjects taught at the schools.
The MEC says the reduction of smaller schools will go a long way in boosting the result of the province. “We have so many schools in the province, and some are too small, and learners are not adequately attended to. The merger will give our learners a boost; they will have enough teachers and material support. Viable schools will surely change and improve the outcome of our result, especially the grade 12 result”. Says MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya.
The governing bodies of the schools identified for the merger will be granted ninety (90) days to make presentations in relation to the notice.
