Bogus independent schools warning

THE King Cetshwayo District’s Department of Education has issued a warning to parents to be on the lookout for bogus independent schools that have mushroomed in the region in recent years.

In an interview with the ZO on Wednesday, King Cetshwayo District Director, Dr David Chonco, said parents have a tendency of taking their children to so-called independent schools in a quest for better quality education, only to realise at a later stage that the schools are unregistered.

‘In terms of the South African Schools Act, no person may establish an independent school unless it is registered by the Head of Department.

‘Any independent school operating outside the prescripts of the said law, is illegal. The Department of Education is therefore not responsible for the consequences,’ Chonco said.

‘It is not only the curricula that is of concern, even the structural building of a school must be assessed and approved by the department.

‘We are making this pronouncement to protect learners and their parents who are lured to these unregistered schools.

‘Our main concern is that a child enrolled in an unregistered school is not guaranteed proper curriculum delivery, safe and secure school infrastructure and properly qualified SACE registered educators..

‘We encourage parents not to put their children’s education in jeopardy by abdicating their responsibility of ascertaining the status of these schools.

‘We have a record of all properly registered schools on our data base which can be inspected at any circuit management centre or district office,’ Chonco said.

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