The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) recently presented a glowing report on its so-called “support” to Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) schools. They claimed to be investing millions in specialised staff and world-class skills programmes. However, oversight inspections conducted by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng at Ezibeleni and Samson LSN schools uncovered neglect and corruption, indicating a betrayal of vulnerable learners by the department.
The DA demands a full forensic audit of all Gauteng LSEN schools, including Samson and Ezibeleni. We further demand the immediate suspension of principals and district officials implicated in financial irregularities and call for urgent intervention to provide accredited skills training for learners.
The department claims to have spent R2 million on three “skills classrooms” at Samson LSEN. Yet, what we saw at this school were tiny rooms that could accommodate no more than 10 learners each, with little to no training taking place. Out of 514 learners aged 14 and above, fewer than 10% can access any form of skills training. More concerning is that those who do participate receive non-accredited certificates designed only to pacify parents rather than prepare children for the future.
At Ezibeleni, the situation was no better. Despite the department’s claims of robust staffing support, teachers and staff are overstretched, leaving learners unattended. Workshops are under-equipped, and there are no basic support services. The 798 therapists and nurses across 130 special LSEN schools mentioned in the report are nowhere to be found in Ezibeleni, and anyone who dares to speak up against this and the alleged corruption at this school faces intimidation.
Moreover, despite the department’s claims that funding is allocated based on the needs of learners, schools are grappling with systemic issues such as ghost learners, inflated enrolment figures, and misused funds allegations learned about during inspections of these schools. Principals and SGB members allegedly benefit from rigged tenders and vehicle rental schemes, while district officials refuse to investigate complaints that are piling up year after year.
The department’s polished PowerPoint presentations are works of fiction that do little to address the plight of vulnerable children stripped of their dignity, education, and future within LSEN schools. The DA demands that GDE stop misleading Gauteng residents and claiming non-existent victories when learners in LSEN are suffering. We will be tabling questions about the allocation of funds to each school and insist that the department interrogate allegations of corruption at Ezibeleni and Samson.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would treat learners in LSEN schools with the respect they deserve, ensuring that they enjoy a conducive learning environment by making sure there are no infrastructure deficiencies, providing adequate staffing and equipment, and dealing decisively with corruption that steals from our children and denies them the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.