SowetanLive reports that the Eastern Cape department of education has closed more than 700 schools and almost 400 more face closure due to the department’s restructuring and rationalisation process.

Figures obtained by Daily Dispatch show that 776 schools have closed, while 394 are pending closure. The document seen by the newspaper does not indicate a time period, but indicates that the department is in the process of restructuring. According to the department, the rationalisation is not only due to migration patterns between provinces, but to reduce inefficiencies within the department. According to the parliamentary monitoring group, rationalisation refers to the “carefully” planned and implemented process of discontinuing schools that have become non-viable due to a decline in enrolment. The merger and closure of schools aims to improve the quality of education. The department said 556 schools had closed in the past five years, while low enrolment was the issue at some of the schools. It also indicated that pupils had moved from the rural areas to urban areas such as Buffalo City Metro and Nelson Mandela Bay. Yet, one of the big problems was that when schools closed, pupils were not adequately budgeted for with regard to scholar transport thereafter. Another problem was that learners were put in a more concentrated space.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gugu Phandle on page 8 of Sowetan of 24 May 2021

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