By Thebe Mabanga

The Gauteng Department of Education has launched a R240 million school for learners with special needs in Springs, Ekurhuleni, catering for learners with epilepsy, autism and other specialised needs.

The Dr W.K. du Plessis School for Learners with Special Education Needs was funded entirely by the provincial government through a combination of equitable share and conditional grants, and was constructed by the Department of Infrastructure Development.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane welcomed the opening of the school, saying it addressed a critical need in the Far East Rand. The school caters for learners from Grade 1 to Grade 12 and currently enrols about 380 learners. It also offers boarding facilities for 60 learners, which are currently operating at half capacity.

Chiloane said the school would help ease pressure on the province’s waiting list for learners with special needs, which currently stands at around 300.

The school achieved a 100% matric pass rate in the previous academic year, with 73% of learners obtaining bachelor passes.

Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Nkosingiphile Xhakaza described the school as a boost to the province’s skills development base, given Ekurhuleni’s role as Gauteng’s industrial and logistics hub.

Xhakaza said the metro currently spends R12 million annually on educational support through bursaries, equipment, facilities and other interventions, and expressed confidence that the school would produce learners who could benefit from these initiatives.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the opening of a school was always exciting, adding that opening one for learners with special needs was particularly significant.

“Learners with special needs should not be limited to menial or clerical work,” Lesufi said, noting that the school would help ensure their meaningful participation in the mainstream economy.

He challenged Chiloane to continue opening a new school every month, pointing out that a school had been opened during each week of the current school year.

MEC for Infrastructure Development Jacob Mamabolo praised the speed at which the project was completed, noting that construction began after the Covid-19 pandemic. He said the issuing of the occupancy certificate — a process that can take up to 12 months — had been fast-tracked to allow learners to occupy the school this year.

Protest disruption

The launch was briefly disrupted by a protest by learners from surrounding schools. Chiloane met with the protesters and later told attendees that they were “raising legitimate issues”, instructing senior officials to attend to their concerns.

The protesters called for the placement of unplaced learners and for infrastructure upgrades to address overcrowding, claiming that some classes had as many as 70 learners.

Chiloane confirmed that the province currently has about 2 000 unplaced learners in Grades 1 and 8. He said the department was rolling out mobile classrooms to increase capacity and would also use “host schools” and available spaces such as school halls, supported by subject specialists.

He noted that Gauteng receives between 70 000 and 80 000 new learners annually due to inward migration, adding that infrastructure development was struggling to keep pace with demand.

Addressing concerns around admissions for foreign nationals, Chiloane said South African learners should receive preference. He dismissed claims that applicants could secure placement by applying as foreigners, saying the system required valid documentation to verify nationality or immigration status.

He warned that action would be taken against any school or district official found to have illegally facilitated placements.

Gauteng Legislature Education Portfolio Committee chairperson Moipone Mhlongo welcomed the opening of the school and its focus on learners with special needs. She also used the occasion to pay tribute to the 14 learners who died in a recent accident in the Vaal, calling for tighter regulation of scholar transport.

Acting Deputy Principal Heindrich Terblanche said the new and refurbished facilities would motivate both learners and educators to achieve even better results. He attributed the school’s success to dedicated teachers, strong parental support, and learners “who absorb material like a sponge”.

The school caters for learners with mild to severe intellectual learning disabilities, as well as epilepsy and autism. It is equipped with gross and fine motor equipment, specialised classrooms, therapy rooms, on-site nursing support and specialist educators. It also features newly equipped cooking and life-skills centres.

Originally founded in Kimberley in the Northern Cape, the school relocated to Springs in 1968, where it has operated from its original buildings until the recent upgrade.

The school serves communities in KwaThema, Tsakane and Duduza — collectively known as Kwa Tsaduza — as well as the towns of Springs, Brakpan and Nigel.

INSIDE EDUCATION