Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier says it is unfortunate that an organisation like Equal Education is challenging the validity of the province’s collaboration schools model, which he said makes high quality no-fee education available to learners in poor communities.
On Wednesday Equal Education (EE), represented by the Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) presented heads of arguments in the Western Cape High Court challenging “potentially dangerous changes” made to Western Cape education law.
“When the action was instituted, our collaboration schools were just getting off the ground. Since then, the model has produced excellent results, with learners having access to incredible learning opportunities.
Our collaboration school donors have contributed to the value of over R325 million to our schools to date, a contribution to our education sector that might otherwise not have been made. Of the schools using the model, 10 are new schools, offering over 8 300 no-fee school places to learners, the Western Cape education department said through a media statement.
The Western Cape Provincial School Education Amendment Act of 2018 (the Amendment Act) has changed the Western Cape education law in major ways, the court heard.
“It has made it possible for two new types of schools to be established – collaboration and donor-funded schools – where donors and private entities are given significant control of public schools in a way that undermines the principles of democratic governance and accountability,” Equal Education argued Wednesday.
Equal Education says the Amendment Act has also made possible the establishment of intervention facilities for learners found guilty of serious misconduct. Learners sent to intervention facilities can be separated from their family and community for up to a year.
“We are challenging the introduction of these three institutions because the law around them is vague, is inconsistent with the Constitution and in conflict with the South African Schools Act (SASA),” Equal Education and Equal Education Law Centre said in a joint statement.
Maynier said his department is seeing a positive trend in systemic test and matric results at schools, but said it is not the only reason the model is valuable.
He added that learners at collaboration schools also benefit from access to opportunities made possible by the involvement of operating partners.
The involvement of operating partners allows additional resources to be brought in, like career guidance counsellors and mentors, partnerships with non-governmental organisations promoting the mental health and wellbeing of learners, resources for remedial education, teacher training, support for the school’s financial management, and other interventions to support teaching and learning.
“The model has also allowed communities to become more involved in establishing schools that serve the unique needs of their community. This kind of direct parental involvement can only benefit our education system, and our learners.
“One need only look at collaboration schools like Apex High School, Jakes Gerwel Technical High School, and Boundary Primary School, to see the benefits that the model offers, Maynier said.
The NGO told the court that it is not opposed to testing innovative education models, but recognise that experimentation in education is a very sensitive undertaking as it involves the lives and futures of learners.
Click here to listen to Tarryn Cooper-Bell, Senior Attorney at Equal Education Law Centre.
The case continues on Thursday.
– Inside Education
