An education crisis looms in the Northern Cape and the only solution is placing the provincial education department under administration. The Northern Cape Education Department owes schools thousands of rands. This money should have been paid over to schools by 15 November last year, in accordance with the National Norms and Standards for School Funding. However, schools are still waiting for payments, while other schools received as little as 27% of last year’s money.

“The provincial education department’s reasons for this state of affairs do not hold water. Officials cannot simply take children’s money,” says Dr Jaco Deacon, CEO of FEDSAS (Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools).

Deacon says the situation is so dire that some schools were forced to close hostels. These learners, some of them in Grade 12, have no option but to stay home. At other schools, hostel learners were requested to bring groceries. Money for feeding schemes were also not paid out, which means some children are at school without a proper meal. 

“While officials and politicians try to justify the situation with lengthy explanations, children’s constitutional rights are being trampled. Similarly, the Minister of Basic Education has a constitutional duty to provide access to quality education. FEDSAS is urging Minister Siviwe Gwarube to place the Northern Cape Education Department under administration.”

Deacon says for two years running the Northern Cape’s matric results were the lowest of all provinces. “This is a symptom of mismanagement. The department’s administrative incompetence has a direct impact on learners’ future.”

FEDSAS understands why education unions in the province started with protest action. This involves work to rule, which means that employees deliberately execute their duties to the letter of their contract. “However, FEDSAS requests union members to make sure that no children are disadvantaged by the process. The dispute is with the provincial education department, not with schools and especially not with learners.”

Deacon says FEDSAS remains committed to cooperation with all role-players. “Over the past six months, FEDSAS met with the department several times, and wrote a number of letters. Urgent action is required now. Nice promises do not fill lunch boxes or pencil cases.”