KZN special schools closed, Premier vows to act

THREE weeks after schools reopened, many special schools in the province remain closed, with the KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier committing to resolve the issues that have prevented special needs children from attending class.

- THOBEKA NGEMA

The South African National Association for Special Education (Sanase) in the province called for the closure of special schools because of operational challenges. Sanase highlighted lack of funding, support staff and learner transport as pressing issues.

Last week, the Education Department announced the successful payment of Norms and Standards funding to special schools for the second quarter; however, 38 schools in the province remain closed.

KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli's spokesperson, Lindelani Mbatha, said that Ntuli and Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka met with Sanase leadership in Durban on Tuesday.

In a recent interview, Sanase KZN revealed they had handed over a memorandum to the Office of the Premier but had not received a response.

The Office of the Premier clarified that the five-month delay in responding to the memorandum was due to its referral to the Department of Education (DoE) for implementation, with the Premier's office acting in an oversight capacity.