CAPE TOWN, Western Cape – Members of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education expressed outrage today after the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) admitted uncertainty over whether learners in the province remain without school placements, with the academic year now halfway complete.
The WCED appeared before the committee to address allegations of learner exclusion raised by civic organisation Equal Education. The organisation told MPs that parents from disadvantaged and marginalized communities—particularly Coloured and Black families—continue to battle to secure placements for their children.
A group of parents from Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Strand, and Kraaifontein joined the proceedings virtually, stating they had repeatedly alerted the provincial department to their plight without receiving adequate assistance.
Nontsikelelo Dlulane from Equal Education told the committee: “These are a group of parents from Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Strand, Kraaifontein and majority of these parents here are still having learners this year that are still unclear. So they here coming to listen to the Western Cape Education Department with no hope right and especially with the attitude that we’re receiving from the Western Cape department.”
Committee Chairperson Joy Maimela said she was shocked that children remained out of school this late in the year. “We must now leave the politics of it. We must think about ourselves as parents. How do we feel? How would you feel if your child was not in school and it’s June?” she asked.
In response, Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier acknowledged the significant admissions pressure facing the department. “We are moving heaven and earth to raise more money—R2.5 billion—to build more schools, build more classrooms so that we better serve particularly learners from poor communities in the rapid school build program,” Maynier said. He requested that Equal Education provide specific details about unplaced learners to enable case-by-case investigation and support.
However, Maimela indicated this response fell short. “I did not think in my wildest mind that there are learners that are not in school. I really did not,” she stated. “You are saying you don’t know. Equal Education and the parents are saying their children are not in school because they’ve been engaging with you, and you are saying you don’t know. I want to get that part at this time because it will be a matter that really stresses you. It is a matter that should be number one priority on your desk.”
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, also participating in the session, acknowledged that learners being out of school at this stage of the year “is an indictment on everyone,” adding that discrimination has no place in the schooling system.
The WCED committed to providing the committee with a written response containing exact figures on unplaced learners within seven days.
