KZN Education Department rejects move to close special needs schools

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.

- THOBEKA NGEMA

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 remained 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 Pre-vocational 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 nonoperational 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.