BOGUS SCHOOLS SHUTDOWN IN EBONY AND IVORY PARK

The Gauteng MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi, was on a mission to shut down bogus schools today, 8 October 2020. The schools, amongst them Wisdom English Private School in Ivory Park and True Grace Combined School in Ebony Park have been shut down by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) with assistance from Law Enforcement Agencies.

A total of eleven illegal immigrants have been arrested and are currently in the Ivory Park Police Station cells including the Principals of the schools. One of the Principals is heavily pregnant. Some of the teachers left the schools as soon as they saw officials arrive leaving learners stranded.

They have been allegations that the schools were operating illegally without licences from the Department of Education. The purpose of the visits was to verify the allegations. Both the schools were declared illegal as they are not registered with the GDE.

It was discovered that Wisdom English Private was operating on four different locations in Ivory Park and True Grace Christian School was amongst schools which were shutdown in 2019. The school reappeared on a different location apparently built two weeks ago.

Some educators failed to produce legal South African IDs and SACE compliant documents which is a requirement for an educator to teach learners.

The “educators” were swiftly taken to the Ivory park Police Station for questioning. Principals from both schools were also taken to the police station for necessary questioning on possible contravention of Immigration Legislation.

MEC Lesufi gave officials about 48 hours to furnish him with necessary information to make an informed decision on the way forward as both the schools have been previously shutdown.

The departmental officials have started with a desktop process to source placement for all affected learners in the event these schools are permanetly closed. Necessary engagements will be facilitated with all affected parents to guide on the Department’s interventions.

The schools closures will affect nearly 1,000 students and the monthly fees in these unregistered schools are said to be between R300 and R1200.

Parents are urged to verify if a school is registered with the GDE before registering their children in bogus schools.