Privaatonderwys binnekort slegs vir rykes
Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering is vyandig gesind teenoor privaatonderwys. Alhoewel die grondwet burgers die reg gee tot onafhanklike skole, gebruik die regering ‘n grondwetlike bepaling dat privaatskole geregistreer moet wees as ’n middel om privaatskole weg te reguleer sodat privaatskole binnekort slegs bekostigbaar sal wees vir rykes. (Waar die ministers hulle kinders heen kan stuur)
In 2001 artikuleer die voormalige minister van onderwys, prof. Kader Asmal, hierdie houding soos volg: “No. I've always believed in a unitary school system, like the German system, but the Constitution says there will be private schools so I have no problem with them. There are many private schools with a Cambridge examination which I have problems with. It's based entirely on an English syllabus, and we're trying to create a South African school system with values that are truly South African.”
Die staat plaas ‘n enorme administratiewe las op privaatskole om te registreer en geregistreer te bly. Hierdie jaar het die staat hierdie las nog swaarder gemaak deur die aanvaarding van ’n beleid waarvolgens privaatskole deur Umalusi gemonitor moet word. Volgens ’n berig gaan die kostes van assessering vir ’n skool van ongeveer 600 leerlinge styg van ongeveer R7000 per jaar tot R70 000 per jaar. Bo en behalwe hierdie kostes moet privaatskole ook nog ’n groot hoeveelheid administrasie verrig om voor te berei vir inspeksies van Umalusi. Sommige skole gaan personeellede moet aanstel om hierdie administrasie te doen.
Hierdie monitering dra niks by tot die opvoeding van die kinders nie. Alhoewel die regering voorgee dat die intensie van hierdie intensiewe monitering is om sg. “fly by night” skole uit te roei en kwaliteit te waarborg, gee dit in werklikheid net meer mag aan die staat en skep werksgeleenthede vir amptenare by Umalusi.
Die ouers sal natuurlik hierdie addisionele kostes moet betaal. Sommige ouers sal dit nie kan betaal nie, en ander ouers sal weier om meer te betaal vir iets wat niks bydra tot die opvoeding van hulle kinders nie. Hierdie ouers sal moontlikhede van tuisonderwys en ongeregistreerde privaatskole ondersoek.
Die proses om ’n privaatskool te registreer is so moeilik dat daar alreeds honderde skole in Suid-Afrika is wat nie geregistreer is nie. Volgens ’n navorsingsverslag oor ongeregistreerde skole is dit een van die hoofredes waarom baie privaatskole nie geregistreer is nie, omdat daar van privaatskole verwag word om te voldoen aan ’n groot aantal streng vereistes wat opgestel is deur amptenare wat geen kennis het van privaatonderwys nie. Verder neem dit soms jare voordat ’n skool geregistreer is. Die nuwe beleid gaan waarskynlik daartoe lei dat nog meer skole besluit om nie te registreer nie.
Wanneer ’n privaatskool nie geregistreer is nie, is so ’n skool kwesbaar vir intimidasie deur die Departement van Onderwys. Dis juis om hierdie skole te help dat die Vereniging vir Tuisonderwys in samewerking met die Pestalozzi Trust reeds jare gelede ’n inisiatief geloods het om hierdie skole te ondersteun. Hierdie inisiatief stel ongeregistreerde skole in staat om hulle dienste te adverteer sonder om blootgestel te word, en gee aan hulle regsbeskerming indien hulle wederregtelik vervolg sou word.
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Comments 2
In a report to the Parliamentary Monitoring groups, DBE makes the statement : "The DBE dispelled the myth that there was a decreased confidence in the public schooling system, as there had been no significant growth in the number of independent schools. It was looking at closing small schools which were educationally and economically not viable, keeping in mind departmental resource constraints." This means that registered private schools are not growing, and it is the intention of DBE to close down unregistered private schools. Read more at http://goo.gl/rFKXGe
Die Pestalozzi Trust het 'n brief geskryf aan die Weskaapse regering oor hierdie saak. Die brief kan gelees word by http://goo.gl/MnbxDU
Die inhoud van die brief word hieronder gegee.
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The Pestalozzi Trust noted with interest a statement on teacher training, issued by Ms Anette Lovemore, the DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education on 8th inst. (See Note 1 for source.)
In the statement, she also remarks as follows:
"Professor Herman van Schalkwyk of North West University told the conference on Thursday that his university carries out testing of literacy and comprehension skills on matriculants entering the university. On average, literacy levels are those that would be expected of a Grade 7 learner and comprehension skills are at the level that would be expected of a Grade 5 learner."
We observe that the results of those matriculants were judged to be adequate for university entrance by Umaluzi, the designated quality control agency for the National Senior Certificate.
These findings by North West University cast a dark shadow of doubt over the validity and reliability of the quality control being provided by Umaluzi. Indeed, it suggests that Umaluzi delivers much in terms of control and nothing useful in terms of quality.
That being the case, we are compelled to enquire how the regulations for the registration of independent schools which were issued by the DA government in the Western Cape can be justified, to the extent that they require independent schools to be "accredited" by Umaluzi. This is particularly pertinent, given the huge financial and administrative burden that the accreditation requirement places on those schools.
We respectfully draw your attention to indications that unreasonable regulatory burdens such accreditation by Umaluzi is forcing many private schools underground, stimulating a large and growing community of outlaw educators. We submit that such governance practices effectively criminalize education that may in all other respects be very good.
Accordingly, we request with respect to be informed of the reasons for requiring Umaluzi accreditation from independent schools, especially since state schools are not burdened with the same requirement.