SPECIAL needs schools in KZN might be forced to shut their doors indefinitely at the end of the school year after a crucial meeting was held at Khulangolwazi Special School in Montclair on November 25.

Also read: Montclair special school reopens following weeks of disruptions

The leading issue

Members of South African National Association for Special Education (Sanase) and special school leadership met to discuss urgent action, as there had been no response from KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli or from the provincial Department of Education, despite the rising crisis.

In a statement, Sanase said the situation has reached a “high-risk” point, citing broken commitments, persistent funding shortfalls and mounting operational challenges faced by special schools.

Parent-led protest action, which began on October 13, prompted an initial engagement with the premier’s office, culminating in an urgent meeting on October 28. At that meeting, Sanase and Ntuli agreed that protests would be suspended while he consulted with provincial treasury. However, nearly a month later, Sanase says no feedback has been received.

“Despite multiple emails, phone calls and messages to both the chief of staff and the premier regarding the agreements, we have not yet received any feedback or confirmation of commitment to resolve the issues,” read the statement.

Areas of concerns

Vacancies unfulfilled:

Sanase said the ongoing challenges have reached a breaking point. In 2023, an agreement between the premier, treasury and the Department of Education committed to filling 1 057 vacancies across special schools through a three-phased approach. While phase one was completed, with 350 posts filled across 76 schools, phases two and three have yet to begin.

The organisation emphasised that support staff, which include teacher assistants, general workers, hostel staff and drivers, are critical for special schools to function safely and effectively, and that they are just as important as the teachers in providing support to learners with special needs.

Schools not built:

Sanase also listed severe infrastructure concerns. Two schools were still at the development stage, six were in the pre-construction stage and eight required upgrading of hostels or new hostel facilities. Storm damage has rendered several schools unsafe, and many have either inadequate or no perimeter fencing and insufficient classrooms for the current enrolment.

Transport:

Transport remains another critical obstacle. Ageing fleets, chronic breakdowns and long repair delays leave many learners stranded at home for weeks. Others are forced to walk long distances or rely on public transport, placing vulnerable children at increased risk.

Funding:

Adding to these complications is instability in norms and standards funding, the only operational subsidy for special schools, used to cover utilities, learning materials and salaries for support staff. Funding was issued in two tranches in 2023, three in 2024, and remains uncertain for 2025, with only half of the expected allocation received so far. As a result, many schools cannot pay utility bills, procure essential or specialised learning materials or pay school governing body-appointed support staff awaiting provincial appointment.

Demands of Sanase

After the meeting at Khulangolwazi Special School, Sanase and the school leaders have established the following demands:

• The KZN Department of Education must immediately pay all outstanding 2025 subsidies to all 76 special schools so that they can reopen their doors in 2026.
• Calling on urgent discussions with the Department of Education and the Premier’s office to take place to determine whether schools can function next year without secured learning materials, utility payments or support staff.
• Further engagement with the Premier is required to ensure that the commitments made in 2023 regarding phased integration of support staff are honoured.
• Immediate provision of learner transport vehicles and sufficient infrastructure support to address ongoing safety hazards and shortages of space.

The organisation has called on the premier, the MEC for Education and the Head of Department to treat these issues as priority. With the academic year drawing to an end, uncertainty remains on whether the special schools in KwaZulu-Natal will be able to open their doors in 2026.

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