The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) shut down independent schools operating illegally in the province because they are denying learners of access to quality education and a conducive learning environment.
The DA received complaints about 13 schools allegedly operating illegally in Bloubosrand. We conducted oversight inspections at five schools in the area today and we can confirm that they are operating illegally.
Boipuso Primary School is not registered, there is severe overcrowding in the classrooms and no area for the learners to play.
Takane Academy, Gateway Private School, Aeon Academy and Stepping Stones Academy are not registered. This means that these schools are not following the correct curriculum and environmental health laws.
See photos here, here, here and here.
In addition, all of the schools are operating from a residential home that has not been zoned for business purposes. Furthermore, some of the schools are using documents that appear to be fake and may not have been obtained legally.
The DA demands that GDE urgently intervene to ensure that all independent schools operating in the province do so legally. This will protect the interests of both the learners and the parents.
We will also be submitting questions to determine the number of independent schools in the province and the schools in Bloubosrand that are operating illegally.
It is high time that the department ensures that more schools are built in the province to deal with the influx of people. It is unacceptable that we have a situation where parents desperate for their children to receive an education resort to sending them to schools that are not registered.
The DA is also urging parents to ensure that the independent schools they send their children to are fully compliant and registered with the GDE.