Only two of the eleven schools that were given notice of possible closure in the Eden and Karoo education district have escaped the final cut at the eleventh hour.

Rodewal UCC Primary School in Oudts-hoorn and Wittedrif Primary School in Plettenberg Bay will not be closed at the end of this year.

Provincial education MEC Donald Grant announced his final decision on the fate of 20 of the 27 schools in the Western Cape which have been under threat of closure.

The nine primary schools in Eden and the Karoo that will be closed are: Rondevlei in Sedgefield, Warmbad Spa in Calitzdorp, Krombeksrivier in Heidelberg, Oudtshoorn's Welbedacht, Rietfontein, Denneprag in Mossel Bay, Langkloof in Riversdale, along with Bracken Hill and Redlands, both from Knysna. Most of these schools are small farm schools with low enrolment numbers.

Placement plans have been developed for each of these schools.

The education department cited reasons for the closures including dwindling learner numbers, the poor physical condition of some schools, poor academic performance in certain areas, multigrade teaching and high drop-out rates.
"This has not been an easy process and I have had to make some very difficult decisions, but I am convinced that these decisions are in the best interests of the learners concerned," Grant said.

Johanna Saayman, Principal of Rondevlei Primary, told the George Herald she was devasted when the Director of Education for Eden and the Karoo, Florence Rhoxo, brought them the official letter from the department, informing them of the school's closure. "I couldn't open the letter myself and our chair, Vera Harris, had to break the news to me. It's so sad. I did not know what to say. I'm devastated."

Saayman has been teaching at Rondevlei for the last 20 years, driving from George to Sedgefield and back every day. "I did not have the guts to tell my Grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 learners in my class about the imminent closure. When they saw me crying they asked who was dead.

"Although we realised that Rondevlei was one of the schools under threat of closure we were still hoping and praying that the school would remain open. We always had hope..."

Saayman said by sending them copies of the department's letter together with the kids. "I simply don't have the heart to speak to them."

The parents would be informed by Wednesday (yesterday). Saayman will retire at the end of the year and hopes to run a crèche from her home in Lavalia, George.

The department originally earmarked 27 schools for possible closure. Public hearings were held to collect arguments for and against these closures, by school governing bodies, parents and civil society. It was followed by a storm of protest over the last couple of months against the closing of the schools.

Grant said that school closures were a common occurrence "yearly" throughout the country and internationally.

"They are part of any provincial department's education strategy when re-evaluating and assessing the size, shape and needs of their education system. Many educationalists would agree that closing a school is sometimes a necessary step to improving an education system.

"I would like to stress that parents of learners at the schools that will close do not have to worry about enrolment for the 2013 school year," Grant said.

He said pupils would be transferred to schools that offered better opportunities. Where necessary and possible, the department would assist with school uniforms, transport and feeding. If a pupil was moving from a 'no school fee' school to one charging fees, the department would cover the fees for 2013.

The department would also cover the difference in cases where fees were higher. "Where necessary, the department will also assist parents to apply for fee exemptions where required. The principals and staff of the schools to be closed would be transferred appropriately." Grant gave assurances that their salaries would not change.

DA Leader Helen Zille told delegates attending the party's Western Cape Congress last weekend that the ANC has, over the past decade, closed thousands of schools in the provinces it governs.

Starting from the year 2000, the South African Institute of Race Relations puts the figure at 2 388 schools. The provincial breakdown is: 1 116 in the Free State; at least 648 in North West; at least 590 in the Eastern Cape; 215 in Mpumalanga; 173 in Limpopo; and 111 in the Northern Cape. During this period, 49 schools were closed in the Western Cape, most under the ANC's control in the province.

* Die Wes-Kaapse minster van onderwys, Donald Grant, het op 'n nuuskonferensie bekendgemaak dat hy die deure van 20 skole aan die einde van die jaar gaan sluit. Net twee van die elf skole in die Eden- en Karoo-distrik, wat in Mei vanjaar ingelig is dat hulle moontlik kan sluit, het die valbyl vrygespring.

By Hugo Redelinghuys