“Domus Academy operating illegally” – GDE

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed that Domus Academy situated in Birchleigh has been operating illegally.

Kempton Park resident Mary Smith* said her son was a Grade 12 learner at Domus Academy in 2023.

“My son was prevented from writing his matric preliminary and final exams because neither he nor the school were registered.

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“When I contacted Amalusi, where the learners were supposed to be registered and the department both confirmed that the school was not registered,” said Smith.

“My son was also supposed to be registered with Alpha, but according to them he was de-registered because the school failed to pay them.”

According to GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona, they served the academy with a notice to cease operations on December 6, last year.

“These schools make it difficult for the department to account for the education of learners. Sometimes parents insist on taking their children to these schools despite efforts to educate them differently,” said Mabona.

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“It becomes difficult to place learners from these schools into legally operating schools as the quality of learning in illegally operating schools is often compromised.”

Mabona explained the Department of Education considered a school illegal if it was not registered with them.
He added for a school to be considered legal, the entity must apply to the department a year preceding operation.

“The school then needs to comply with all registration requirements and documents, such as zoning certificates, health certificates and others,“ said Mabona.

“After a thorough assessment, the department issues a school with an EMIS certificate. The certificate features the name of the school, the address, and the facility’s EMIS number.

“If a school does not have an EMIS certificate which corresponds with the address where a school is situated, parents must know that it is an illegally operating school,” said Mabona.

“Additionally, if a school is in a house and does not have an EMIS certificate that corresponds with an address where the school is situated, this school is also operating illegally,” he added.

Mabona advised parents and community members to ask schools for EMIS letters when they seek admission to independent schools to ascertain that these are legitimate schools.

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The Kempton Express contacted the owner of Domus Academy for comment.

In response to the enquiry, they referred the Kempton Express to an official at the GDE to confirm their registration.

Mabona said while the GDE had received an application from the institution, the application was not complete.
“Documents were missing.”

“Accordingly, the school was advised by the said official to submit the compliance documents.

“Since the school’s application was not approved because of the outstanding documents, it remains unregistered and it will remain until the department issues an EMIS number to the school.”

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He confirmed necessary processes are underway to ensure the school ceases operations.

The Kempton Express attempted to contact the school’s owner again on September 6 and September 10.

Requests sent by email and WhatsApp were read but unanswered by the deadline of September 13.

At the time of going to print on September 17, no comment was forthcoming from the school or its owner.

*Name changed to protect the identity of a minor.