The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has rejected the South African National Association of Special Education’s (Sanase) call to close special schools in the province. 

Sanase issued a notice for all special schools to close until further notice because of operational challenges. 

KZN has 76 special needs schools and it is unclear how many had been closed since schools returned on Monday.

A special school provides support for pupils with a range of needs, including severe learning difficulties, physical disabilities, behavioural challenges, and other special educational requirements.

In a letter to one school, Truro Prevocational in Chatsworth, the School Governing Body (SGB) informed parents on Monday that the school would close indefinitely. This decision follows Sanase’s call for special schools to temporarily shut down due to issues with the Department of Education.

Sanase in the letter said parents would be required to keep their children home and would be notified of the reopening of the schools.

KZN Sanase deputy chairperson Dr Khetha Khumalo said they decided to close schools due to their non-operational status.

He said the department is supposed to provide money and schools need cash daily so that they can run.

“If the money runs out, there’s a challenge of basic needs not being met in schools,” Khumalo said. 

He said special schools faced shutdowns in 2022/2023 due to staff shortages (including support staff and physiotherapists).

Transportation issues, such as old or run-down buses, exacerbated the problem, with repairs taking 4 to 6 months, leaving pupils without schooling during that period.

“The government knows, it is aware of the challenges we have. There are a lot. Some schools are not in a good condition,” Khumalo said. 

“A common issue across all schools is electricity. The electricity bill is expensive. We have alerted the department and engaged with municipalities, but no one has come forward to assist us. Monthly, for electricity, you pay over R100,000 from the little amount given by the government.” 

Khumalo said they have done all they can to engage the relevant departments. 

He said the current educational system presents an imbalance, with some pupils being taught while others are not, and some attending school inconsistently. 

Khumalo’s circular mandated the closure of all special schools, but due to the nature of boarding schools, timely communication with parents was crucial.

A full closure of all schools is expected by Wednesday.

The department’s 2024/2025 annual report shows 22,593 pupils enrolled in public special schools (exceeding the 21,600 target) with 2,030 teachers. Additionally, 2,957 teachers were trained on the screening, identification, assessment, and support policy.

KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka said the department is the sole authority permitted to close schools, that no other entity has this right to do this and the call to close special schools was wrong and illegal. 

“We understand the challenges that are faced by the special schools,” Hlomuka said. 

“These special schools, most of which are built by us means we contributed, we are funding these schools. But we understand the challenges, maybe of short staff. We also understand the challenges of payment of norms and standards.” 

Hlomuka said there is also a lack of a report detailing the specific challenges faced by these schools.

“I thought it was important to raise, as a matter of principle, because tomorrow another institution will wake up and say we are closing any school or any centre,” Hlomuka said. 

Hlomuka said they understand the challenges of all 5,800 schools and their circuits. 

“If you have issues, you are supposed to engage us but no one engaged us. We were just told yesterday that special schools (are closed),” Hlomuka said. 

He added that officials have engaged with the association, which understands and reviews its decision. 

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KZN Education head of department Nkosinathi Ngcobo, said they are aware of the challenges. 

“The challenges arise out of the budgetary constraints facing the department. We are working with the provincial treasury to ensure that those are resolved,” Ngcobo said. 

“Treasury and ourselves are having constant discussions in terms of how these schools can be helped,” Ngcobo said. 

“The actual closure is actually unwarranted because we are in constant discussions with Sanase, and they know the challenges that the department is facing. They have no right to call for the closure of schools. But we are in engagements with them, and the problem will be resolved.” 

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za 

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