IFP says consultation needed before merging schools
The IFP in KZN says consultations are crucial if the KZN Department of Education intends on merging some 900 schools in rural communities.
The party says community members, traditional leaders, parents and teachers need to be part of the decision-making process.
The department, this week, moved to clarify reports that it plans on closing hundreds of schools in the province's rural areas.
It says about 234 schools called non-viable schools need to be merged this year.
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Education officials say they have very few learners and teachers.
IFP provincial chair Thami Ntuli says the department should be looking at investing, developing, and equipping schools in rural areas rather than closing them down.
"We see this as an issue that is going to destroy the education of the children in KwaZulu-Natal.
"We know that this is actually caused by what they are saying is the issue of low enrollment in some of the schools, of which also that too is caused by Education to support, even affording them teachers. You find schools have vacancies for a very long time."
