Education and Recreation Select Committee: Update on Nondzame Primary School

Meeting report

Update on Nondzame Primary School
The Chairperson explained that the Committee had undertaken an oversight visit to Nondzame Primary School towards the end of last year. The visit was in response to correspondence received from the governing body of the school. It was concerned about the challenges facing the school ever since there was talk of a possible merger of the school. The visit also aimed to contribute to the Committee’s mandate of ensuring that provincial interests were taken into account in the national sphere of government. The school had been closed for the past week and there were concerns about the whereabouts of the learners and teachers. The matter had been referred to the Deputy Minister of Basic Education and was receiving urgent attention.
Ms B Mncube (ANC, Gauteng) enquired as to how an intervention would be possible if there was nobody at the school. In addition, she questioned the exact date of the school’s closure as well as the whereabouts of the learners and the teachers. Finally, she pointed out that the transfer of learners could result in overcrowding at recipient schools and that this needed to be investigated.
Mr S Plaatjie (COPE, North West) disapproved of the manner in which this issue has been handled. He felt that the closure of the school was premature, and that it was necessary to find out if the school had merged with another school or if it had been formally closed. It was also important to establish if the school was closed due to debt. He recommended that this matter be taken up again, perhaps with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).

Mr M de Villiers (DA, Western Cape) reported that he had visited the school and was not satisfied with the manner in which the WCED had handled the case. It was unacceptable. He concurred with Ms Ngcube that it was important to establish the whereabouts of the learners, teachers and the state of the actual school building.
Ms Mncube enquired about the involvement of the school’s Governing Body. This matter was urgent and speedy intervention was necessary. It was necessary to convene a stakeholder meeting (including the School Governing Body, WCED, the Committee, and the community). She also stressed the importance of establishing the fate of the learners and expressed her concern for their security since the closure of the school.
The Chairperson agreed that a stakeholder meeting would be necessary in order to raise issues and concerns involved. A date should be set for this meeting.
Mr Plaatjie proposed that a stakeholder meeting be held seven days from the date of this meeting.
Ms Mncube said that due to the urgency of this matter it would perhaps be better to look at the matter sooner.
Ms D Rantho (ANC, Eastern Cape) expressed her concern at the possibility of the children being used by drug-lords due to their movement. It was thus necessary for the Committee as Public Representatives to go to the school and meet with the affected learners and teachers.
Mr de Villiers proposed that the Oversight Committee provide transport for all stakeholders to Parliament in order to convene as soon as possible.
The Chairperson stated that a meeting would be held on 5 August 2010. The logistics involved as well as the question of who to invite would be addressed in preparation for the meeting.
Mr de Villiers proposed that the school’s Governing Body, the WCED (including the Minister and Head of Department), the Committee and a student/ learner body (if there was one is existence) should be invited.
The Chairperson said that it was important to retrieve the school report which has already been adopted.
Ms Plaatjie said that teacher organisations should also be present at the meeting.
The Chairperson concluded that representatives from the office of the Deputy Minister, the school Governing Body, WCED, teacher organisations should all attend the meeting. A venue within which to hold the meeting should thus be secured.
All Committee members agreed.
Committee Programme
The Committee briefly discussed its programme and made changes to it.
Other Matters
The minutes of all four previous meetings were adopted without any changes.
Ms M Boroto (ANC, Mpumalanga) voiced her dismay at the manner in which the minutes of previous meetings had been compiled and presented.
This concern was shared by other Members. It was concluded that a format for report-writing needed to be developed.

Ms Mncube commented that a full briefing was needed regarding the overhaul of the OBE system. The Department needed to put measures in place to help teachers.
The Chairperson stated that this would be looked at.
The meeting was adjourned.