School Community Integration Pilot Project - Department of Education

A comparative analysis of education expenditure in Eastern Cape schools – November 2004
Over the three year period 2006-08 combined, senior secondary and small
secondary schools (less than 300 enrolment) should therefore be realigned from
2006 onwards. Schools would realign to a full primary (grades R to 7) and full
secondary (grades 8 to 12) system. This will entail the transfer of grade 8 and 9
learners from combined schools to senior secondary schools during this period
within their district. Secondary schools would be encouraged to increase their
enrolment to at least 300 or face closure. The Department will need to prioritise the
construction of just over 2,000 classrooms to convert senior secondary schools to full
secondary schools during these 3 years. This can however be accommodated within
the existing capital programme with reprioritisation of existing construction to the
targeted schools.
Finalise school planning criteria
The information is present to finalise clear criteria to open new schools, close old
schools and to amalgamate schools in the draft physical planning manual. Analysis
of population growth or decline in communities, and the distance of learners from
schools, is required to complete the picture. The Department should complete its
school planning criteria in 2005 by investigating these areas.
Learner to school matching
In an analogous process to person to post matching the Department should conduct
a ‘learner to school matching’ during 2005 to examine school planning and
realignment. Building on existing EMIS work and school planning criteria a clear
picture should be built up of:
• Where small schools are and what are their characteristics
• Where community populations are growing or declining and hence where
communities are under-served or over-provided
One of the key goals should be to identify small schools that will need to be retained,
schools that can be amalgamated, and schools that are clearly non-viable and which
need to be closed. The matching should be conducted in each district.
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