I'm an older learner transitioning to secondary schooling

• Go to the learner’s current primary school and ask them about applying to a School of Skills. If your child is a suitable candidate, request that the school applies.
• In a School of Skills learners are supported to acquire knowledge and skills to become self-sufficient in society. These learners are offered an opportunity to create an alternative career path by developing vocational skills.
• Application for School of skills must be made by the primary school in the year the child turns 14. The principal of the current primary school that the learner is in should consult the parents on this matter.

• Apply to three ordinary public Secondary schools. If there is a full service Secondary school in your local area, include this school in your application process.
• It is compulsory for ALL children between the ages of 7 and 15 to be in school.
• Section 2 (3) of the South African Schools Act (SASA) states that:

Every parent must cause every learner for whom he or she is responsible to attend a school from the first school day of the year in which such a learner reaches the age of seven years until the last school day of the year in which such learner reaches the age of fifteen years or the ninth grade, whichever occurs first.

• Tool for finding a list of secondary schools in the Western Cape
• Excel spreadsheet containing list of schools

• If the application that you have made to an ordinary school has been declined, ask the school(s) for a letter stating the reasons why admission has been declined.
• A public school may not discriminate against any learner with regards to the admission process at school.

• A parent has the right to choose which school their child can attend.

• Section 5 (1)of the South African Schools Act (SASA) states that:

A public school must admit learners and serve their educational requirements without unfairly discriminating in any way.

Section 5 (6) of SASA states that:

In determining the placement of a learner with special education needs, the Head of Department and principal must take into account the rights and wishes of the parents of such learner.

• Write a letter of appeal to the MEC of education in the Western Cape if you are not happy with the reasons given by the school for admission being declined.

Contact the MEC of Education

Debbie Schafer

WC Education Ministry

Tel: 021 483 6574

Email: edumin.edumin@westerncape.gov.za

Street Address: 2nd Floor, Vunani Chambers, 33 Church Street, Cape Town, 8001

Postal Address: Private Bag X9161, Cape Town, 8001

• Section 5 (9) of the South African Schools Act (SASA)states that:

Any learner or parent of a learner who has been refused admission to a public school may appeal against the decision to the Member of the Executive Council.”

• As an alternative to writing a letter to the MEC of education you may approach the District Director of Education in your district.
• The District Director of Education must ensure that all learners are enrolled in school after the admission period.
• Section 5 (8) of the Regulations on admission of learners to Public Schools 2012, states that:

Notwithstanding the provisions of any school admission policy, in the case of a learner who has not been placed at any school 30 school days after the end of the admission period, the District Director may place that learner at any school- (a) which has not been declared full in terms of Regulation 8, and (b) in respect of which there are no remaining unplaced learners on a waiting list.

The District Director of Education for all districts in the Western Cape:

Chief Director: Districts

Alan Meyer

PA: Nandipha Sikhweyiya

Tel: 021 467 2089

Fax: 021 467 9325

E-mail: nandipha.sikhweyiya@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: Private Bag 9114, Cape Town 8000

Director: Metro Central Education District

Sanette Nowers

PA: Dori-Anne Petersen

Tel: 021 514 6700

Fax: 021 514 6953

E-mail: dorianne.petersen@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: Metro Central Education District, Private Bag X4, Mowbray 7705

Street Address: Gate House 2, Alexandra Provincial Office Precinct, Haven Road, Garden Village, Maitland

Director: Metro East Education District

Benjamin Schereka

PA: Zainunissa Meyer

Tel: 021 900 7000

Fax: 021 903 9484

E-mail: zainunissa.meyer@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: Metro East Education District, Private Bag X23, Kuilsriver 7579

Street Address: Belhar Road off Nooiensfontein Road, Kuilsriver

Director: Metro North Education District

David Millar

PA: Unathi Booi (acting)

Tel: 021 938 3000

Fax: 021 938 3180

E-mail: unathi.booi@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: Metro North Education District Private Bag X45, Parow, 7500

Street Address: Timmerman Street, Parow

Director: Metro South Education District

Glen van Harte

PA: Noleen Luanne Nefdt

Tel: 021 370 2000

Fax: 021 372 1856

E-mail: noleen.nefdt@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: Metro South Education District, Private Bag X2, Mitchell’s Plain 7785

Street Address: Lentegeur Hospital, AZ Berman Drive, Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain

Director: Cape Winelands Education District

Juan Benjamin

PA: Linda Ntlombeni

Tel: 023 348 4601

Fax: 023 342 4138

E-mail: linda.ntlombeni@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: Cape Winelands Education District, Private Bag X3102, Worcester 6849

Street Address: 9 Durban Street, Worcester

Director: Eden & Central Karoo Education District

Desmond Maarman

PA: Heather Maarman

Tel: 044 803 8300

Fax: 044 873 2253

E-mail: heather.maarman@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: Eden & Central Karoo Education District, Private Bag X6510, George 6530

Street Address: Rentzburg Court, 42 Courtenay Street, George

Director: Overberg Education District

Betram Loriston

PA: Nenanda Dramat

Tel: 028 214 7300

Fax: 028 214 7400

E-mail: nenanda.dramat@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: Overberg Education District, Private Bag X08, Caledon 7230

Street Address: Kollege Straat 15, College Road, Caledon 7230

Heather van Ster

PA: Cecile Louw

Tel: 021 860 1200 / Fax: 021 860 1231

E-mail: Cecile.Louw@westerncape.gov.za

Postal Address: West Coast Education District, Private Bag X3026, Paarl 7620

Street Address: 6 Hospital Street, Paarl

Click here for a map of each district.

• If you have written a letter to the MEC of Education and are wondering about what should happen next then this information may be useful.

• Ideally, a meeting must be set up between parents, the Head of Inclusive Education Directorate from the district as well members of the District Based Support team and school representatives. The purpose of this meeting is to determine support needs, identify the reasonable accommodations the school is required to make and to put this into an individual support plan. At this meeting it is important to take with all supporting documentation such as school reports and transfer letters.
• All learners have the right to be supported academically, socially and emotionally at school. For children who are not strong academic learners, then exit to a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college, at Grade 10 may be an option.
• Section 6 (12) of the Policy on Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS) 2014, states that:

The Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support Policy aims to facilitate the shift from individual learner disability as the driving organiser for support provision to that of the range, nature and level of support programmes, services, personnel and resources that will be made available for special and ordinary schools to increase learner participation in the learning process.”