Capw Town -
Communities were not properly consulted before a decision was taken to close a number of schools, the Western Cape High Court heard on Monday.
Advocate Norman Arendse, representing the 17 schools, argued schools were merely given a one-line reason for closure before public hearings were held last year.
This made it impossible for parents, pupils, and teachers to meaningfully engage on the issue and object to the closures during the hearings.
Western Cape education MEC Donald Grant gave full reasons for the closure after he had already decided to close the schools.
Grant said resources could more efficiently be used if schools where pupil numbers were low, or because of multi-grade teaching, were closed.
The pupils would then be moved to “receiving schools”.
Some parents, teachers, and pupils objected to the move.
Last year, the same court granted the schools an urgent interdict to halt the closures.
The matter is now up for final review in court and will be heard on Monday and Tuesday. - Sapa