The Basic Education Minister has reportedly said it is the prerogative of MECs to close schools as they deem fit.
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The ANC in the Western Cape is pressing ahead with its plans to institute court action against Education MEC Donald Grant’s decision to close 20 schools.
This despite reports that national Education Minister Angie Motshekga had said she supported Grant.
But ANC Western Cape chairman Marius Fransman said he had spoken to Motshekga and she had told him that she had not supported Grant.
“Her response was simply that it is his right to decide if a school is closed or not,” he said, speaking at a community meeting in Bishop Lavis on Sunday.
Grant announced last week he had decided to shut 20 of the 27 schools facing possible closure, 16 of them rural and four urban.
Motshekga’s spokeswoman Hope Mokgatlhe said she had told reporters that it was up to provinces to close schools as necessary.
“It is up to the MEC to make that decision. Schools do close. It is the prerogative of the MEC to close schools as they deem fit.
“If the MEC decided to do so, there is nothing wrong with doing so.”
Fransman said even if Motshekga did support Grant’s decision, that would not stop the campaign to keep the schools open.
“We are not allowing anyone to stand in our way. Whatever explanation that Grant has given, it will not be able to stand up to scrutiny. We are going to court.”
Bronagh Casey, Grant’s spokeswoman, said: “Minister Grant has carefully followed all the processes and procedures prescribed by the SA Schools Act.”
Despite the ANC’s decision to fight the closures, Cosatu secretary Tony Ehrenreich said 12 rural schools had been identified which could be closed. But urban schools should never be closed.
“As Cosatu we accept that some schools should be closed. Multigrade teaching may not be the best way for learners to get an education. Some of the schools in the rural areas could be closed.” He said Cosatu members would soon strike against the closures.
michelle.jones@inl.co.za
Cape Times