Western Cape Education Department Implements Plan for Unplaced Learners

The Western Cape Education Department says it is currently implementing a plan to place 2 550 learners that are currently registered as unplaced in the province.

According to Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer, the plan includes the provision of 129 mobile classrooms to schools, as well as the addition of teaching posts.

The department acknowledged that while some schools already have extra classrooms available, others do require mobile classrooms, which take time to construct.

The Minister said schools that have received additional teaching posts have agreed to accommodate learners in alternative spaces, such as school halls or laboratories, until classrooms are constructed.

Schäfer said learners will be placed in schools, and ready to begin the second term.

She added that the department is well aware that these learners have missed a full term of work, and lesson packs for the first term will be made available at the schools where the learners will be placed.

District officials will also guide schools on how to support learners with a catch-up plan, and will monitor the learners’ assessment results for the second term to determine future support programmes.

Schäfer further stated that the plan would not be possible without additional funding and this has been the main challenge with regards to additional infrastructure and teachers.

The department have had to reprioritise existing funding for this, which means future budget allocations will be negatively affected, as well as current long-term plans.