Western Cape school waiting lists show only African and Coloured pupils, Department of Basic Education finds
via The Citizen3 min read
The Department of Basic Education DBE has identified several issues with the Western Cape Education Department's WCED pupil admissions system, including that waiting lists from schools in the province contained only African and Coloured pupils. These findings were presented to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Basic Education during a follow-up on allegations of racial profiling and discrimination in pupil admissions. The Western Cape High Court previously ruled aspects of the WCED's admissions system unconstitutional and discriminatory, a judgment the provincial department has since appealed. The DBE's preliminary findings indicate that the Western Cape admissions system allows schools to use their own criteria and discretion for placements, with school governing bodies actively involved in administering admissions in many Cape Town schools. Concerns include schools using their own selection criteria, the apparent lack of zoning or residential address use for placement, and the prioritization of parents' right to select schools over the rights of disadvantaged pupils. The DBE also noted that provincial officials typically intervene only after pupils are unplaced, without evidence of instructions to schools to review placement decisions. The review of admissions policies revealed some schools consider academic performance, interviews, tests, scoresheets, proof of employment, and unabridged birth certificates, as well as requests for information on sports participation, lead
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