CHRISTAL-LIZE MULLER
The Free State Department of Education says it has not failed to pay school subsidies to some independent schools in the province.
Spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, says the subsidies to five independent high schools and 15 combined independent schools have not yet been paid because they did not comply with the norms and standards for subsidising public schools in the province.
According to him the norms for independent secondary schools require them to perform equal to or above the provincial required standard. The Free State’s pass rate of 82,7% in the national Gr.12 exams in 2014 determines the standard.
Ndaba says the affected independent combined schools did not comply with the provincial grade 3 and grade 6 pass rates in the Annual National Assessment (ANA). He says the affected schools have been approached by the department.
Ndaba says the department embraces independent schools in the province as they play a critical developmental role in education. According to him the department will continue to pay subsidies quarterly four times a year to 66 independent schools who comply with the standards.
