POLITICS

Gauteng GDE responds to FEDSAS on special needs schools

Dept rejects claim that it is discriminating against the LSEN sector in post provisioning

Media response

The Educator Post Establishments, including that for LSEN, were distributed at the end of September 2012. Consultation with Educator Unions and School Governing Body Associations, including FEDSAS, were concluded prior to distribution of the Post Establishments (see original FEDSAS statement here.)

The 2013 Post Establishment for LSEN schools resulted in:

  • 28 Schools losing a combined total of 79 posts
  • 75 Schools gaining a combined total of 123
  • The sector as a whole gained 44 posts (from 2755 in 2012 to 2799 in 2013)

The department has been engaging both FEDSAS and PACSEN with a view to assisting schools who are losing posts and would find it difficult to cope. FEDSAS and PACSEN submitted the names of 12 such schools with individualised motivations per school. The motivations and queries were thoroughly investigated and the following were established:

  • That the posts distribution norms were accurately applied
  • That the schools legitimately lost posts
  • That the schools in question did not make the appropriate plans to absorb the loss in posts during the calendar year 2012 and that the further losses in post during the 2013 calendar year will further challenge these schools
  • The 12 schools in question would require a total of 24 posts

At a meeting on Friday, 16 November 2012 with FEDSAS the following assistance was proposed and agreed to by FEDSAS:

  • That the department will identify vacant funded posts to assist in mediating the loss of posts
  • That the schools in question should utilise the academic year to adequately plan for and absorb the loss in posts

A similar meeting with PACSEN was scheduled where they are expected to also support the proposal.

The statement by FEDSAS that ordinary schools are being provisioned at a ratio of 1:33 whilst LSEN schools are effectively provisioned at 1:44 if the weights awarded in terms of disability is taken into account is untrue and sensationalist and can be likened to comparing apples to pears.

The ratio of 1: 33 in Ordinary Schools are actual warm bodies i.e. 1 Teacher for every 33 learners. The comparable ratio is 1:15 in LSEN schools i.e. 1 LSEN Educator for every 15 learners. The 1:44 weighted learners in the LSEN sector refers to the weighted learner number in the sector which will result in a school gaining a post. This is a mathematical construct to enable distribution of posts according to weighted of learners. Each learner is given a weighting according to his/her disability. This ratio can therefore not by compared to 1:33 which is not weighted learners but actual learners.

In the ordinary schooling sector learners are also weighted. These weightings are based on subjects, poverty quintiles, grades, LOLT, size of school etc. The weighted learner distribution in ordinary schools roughly approximates 1: 44 as well (Actual figure is 1:43.78). It should be emphasised that these weighted distribution figures are incomparable as it is informed by different criteria.

FEDSAS's claim of discrimination against the LSEN sector is therefore nothing more than sensationalist whipping up of emotions based on deliberate misinformation and distortion of the facts. The department will be able to successfully argue its case in any forum legal or otherwise.

Statement issued by Gauteng Department of Education's Head of Communication, Charles Phahlane, December 6 2012

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