KZN’s Department of Education plans to shut down 255 small and non-viable schools—a total of 70 high schools and 185 primary schools—during the 2023–24 financial year and a total of around 1 000 schools by 2028.

Most of these schools are in rural areas.

Department head Nkosinathi Ngcobo was quoted as saying, “We are looking at progressively closing the small schools. Currently, there are over 900 such schools in the province, starting with those with the lowest enrolment or those that are furthest from the threshold, let’s say 135 and 200. For example, in this financial year, the schools we are targeting have an enrolment of zero already and those are the schools that have closed naturally simply because there is no single learner.”

The move has been criticised by both the IFP and the DA. The IFP’s Mntomuhle Khawula blamed the decline in numbers at rural schools on the government’s inability to resource these schools.

“Schools in urban areas as well as in the townships are much more developed than schools in rural areas. As a result, even people who reside in rural areas—those who can afford it—are paying for transport for their children to go to urban areas, which then leaves schools in rural areas with fewer students. Some schools have been closed, but providing transportation has never happened. When they say 255 schools have five or 10 learners, that is not true,” Khawula said in a statement.

Dr Yusuf Keeka of the DA said ‘the Duma/Mtolo Taliban faction of the ANC, which runs the KZN government, should be in the business of opening schools and not closing them unless absolutely necessary’.

“Shutting down a vast number of schools will only lead to more chaos if there is no proper planning, monitoring, and mechanisms of accountability in the event of failures. The recent collapse of the National School Nutrition Programme, leaving millions of learners hungry, is just one example of what happens without such measures in place.

“The DA acknowledges that there are some schools that need to be closed and even repurposed, however, the exact extent and financial impact are yet unknown. We recently visited one such school in the Harry Gwala district, where there are only two learners. Clearly, it does not make sense for this school to remain open. These learners must, however, be safely transported to the nearest school,” he added.

Dr Keeka said there are schools in the Northern KZN area that have been identified for closure but could not provide numbers or the names of the schools.

He said the DA had come up with ideas on how to use schools that have become non-viable, which will ensure that the local communities continue to benefit from these facilities and ensure the abandoned premises do not become ‘hangouts for drug lords and other criminal activities’.

“Our recommendations include them being used by local communities for a vast variety of activities or being repurposed for state services, such as the delivery of chronic medication. Large boarding schools are another option that must be explored.

“A drive around KZN reveals the many schools, which have been closed, are in a state of disrepair. This is yet another blot on the landscape of our province and the result of a government that simply does not care. The DA remains committed to ensuring that solutions are found and that the well-being of our learners is prioritised.”