News
A Line in the Sand for the Most Vulnerable Learners
In a move that underscores a crisis of sheer desperation, the leadership of special needs schools in KwaZulu-Natal has drawn a definitive line. Following a decisive meeting at Khulangolwazi Special School in Montclair, they have declared that their doors will not reopen in January 2026.
This is not a threat made lightly. It is the culmination of years of what stakeholders call “broken commitments” and “persistent funding shortfalls” that have pushed the system for vulnerable learners to a “high-risk” breaking point. The South African National Association for Special Education (SANASE) and school leaders have effectively issued an ultimatum to the office of Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli and the provincial Department of Education: act now, or bear responsibility for locking out thousands of children with special needs.
A Catalogue of Failures: From Promises to Empty Chairs
The grievances are not new, but they have reached a critical mass. They paint a picture of systemic neglect:
-
The Ghost Staff: A 2023 agreement promised to fill 1,057 critical support staff vacanciesteacher assistants, general workers, hostel staffin phases. Only Phase 1 was completed. Phases 2 and 3 have vanished, leaving schools without the essential personnel needed for basic safety and care.
-
Schools That Exist on Paper: Two promised schools remain unbuilt. Six are stuck in pre-construction. Eight need new or upgraded hostels. Many campuses have unsafe storm damage, no perimeter fencing, and overcrowded classrooms.
-
The Stranded Children: Transport is a daily trauma. With ageing, broken-down buses and long repair delays, learners are left at home for weeks or forced to walk dangerous distances.
-
The Financial Black Hole: The operational subsidy, used for everything from lights to learning materials, is erratic and incomplete. Many schools cannot pay electricity bills, buy specialized equipment, or pay the support staff they’ve had to appoint themselves.
The Final Straw: Silence from the Top
What has galvanized this drastic stance is not just the crisis, but the official silence that followed a plea for help. After parent-led protests in October, Premier Ntuli met with SANASE and asked for protests to be suspended while he consulted the treasury. Nearly a month later, there has been no feedback, no communication, and no confirmation of any plan.
“Despite multiple emails, phone calls and messages… we have not yet received any feedback,” SANASE stated. This silence has been interpreted as the final dismissal of their plight.
The Non-Negotiables for Reopening
From their meeting, clear, non-negotiable demands have emerged:
-
Immediate payment of all outstanding 2025 subsidies to all 76 special schools.
-
Urgent discussions to confirm if schools can even function without secured materials, utilities, or staff.
-
Honouring the 2023 commitment to fill all support staff posts.
-
Immediate provision of safe learner transport and infrastructure support.
The academic year is ending. The clock is ticking. The uncertainty now hangs over the futures of thousands of the province’s most vulnerable children. The schools have made their move, declaring they will not operate in impossible conditions. The ball is now firmly, and publicly, in the court of the Premier and the Education MEC. The province must decide if it will finally listen, or if it will allow an entire sector of essential education to collapse.
{Source: Citizen}
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
