‘Illegal’ private schools warned

A number of independent schools that have been operating despite not being registered are being investigated by the Department of Education (DoE).

The local DoE has received a number of enquiries from parents trying to establish if certain schools are registered in terms of the South African Schools Act.

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The act regulates both public and independent schools.

The department said it was aware that there were some unregistered independent schools operating illegally and which are advertising on social media.

It has been brought to the Herald’s attention that the local DoE is trying to deal with the matter by getting non-compliant independent schools to apply for registration to legalise their facilities, failing which the department will have to ‘refer them to the law enforcement agencies’.

Concerns

Some of the department’s concerns regarding unregistered independent schools include the following:

* They operate from facilities that do not comply with local municipal regulations in terms of zoning and health.

* They charge exorbitant fees at primary level.

* Parents struggle to get their children into public secondary schools in grade 8 because the assessments and curriculum up to grade 7 have not been vetted or approved.

Department requirements

The requirements to register an independent school include:

* The curriculum must be approved by the department;

* All teachers must be qualified and registered with SACE, which is the regulatory authority for teachers;

* The building must be zoned for use as a school by the municipality;

* The applicant must submit a certificate from the health department, the title deeds for the premises and the layout plans;

* The applicant must provide the names and qualifications of the teachers.

No school can operate by law without the prior written approval of the DoE, and an application does not constitute an approval.

Home schoolers also have to be registered with the DoE. Any school not on its list is considered to be operating illegally.

Registered independent schools in the Ugu District, as supplied by the DoE, are:

* Hibberdene Academy,

* Christian Family College,

* South Coast Academy,

* Southcity Christian College,

* The Woods School,

* Creston College,

* Hlanganani Preparatory,

* Port Shepstone International,

* Port Shepstone Islamic,

* Westbury College of Science,

* Griffendore Primary,

* Oxford International High,

* Westbury Preparatory,

* As-Salaam C,

* Umdoni Christian Academy and

* Umzinto Islamic School.

A comment from the provincial DoE was awaited at the time of going to print.

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