A total of 806 small and unviable schools around the country have been identified for closure this financial year, with the biggest number in the Eastern Cape.
According to statistics provided by the Department of Basic Education, the Eastern Cape tops the list of schools facing closure, with 408 schools earmarked for
rationalisation by March 31 next year.
KwaZulu-Natal, with 252 schools, has the second biggest number of schools targeted for either closure or merger. From April last year to March this year, 230 schools were closed in KwaZulu-Natal. As of last year September, KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of small and non-viable schools totaling 967.
The school rationalisation programme, introduced in 2017 with the approval of the framework, aims to ensure that small and unviable schools are either closed or merged to improve the quality of education.
The minimum norms and standards for public school infrastructure provide for primary schools to have a minimum of 135 pupils and 200 secondary schools.
However, if the numbers are less than the minimum enrolment figure in line with the norms and standards, a case can be made with the MEC of education in that particular province for the retention of such schools.
The Government Technical Advisory Centre reports show that Eastern Cape has the largest number of small schools.
Last year 39 schools were closed in Eastern Cape and a total of 1 142 schools have been either closed or merged since the programme started.
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