NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY: QUESTION 1125
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION: 04/05/2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11/2012)
The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) Whether she has commissioned a study to analyse the impact of walking long distances to school on learning; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether her department has kept any record of the number of school days that were lost for learners who are unable to access schools due to harsh weather conditions; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether her department compiles any records of learners who have been (a) victims of crime and (b) hit-and-run accidents while walking to school; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (i) how many learners and (ii) what are the further relevant details? NW1315E
Reply:
- The then Department of Education has, commissioned such a study and there are several other South African studies (The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), conducted by the DOT, 2003, Department of Education, 2006; Nelson Mandela Foundation, 2005; and the Human Rights Commission, 1998) have provided valuable information on the issue of distances that learners have to travel to schools as one of the barriers to learners accessing schools. These studies have informed the development of the Learner Transport policy, collaboration between the Department of Transport and the Department of Basic Education. This policy is in the process of being finalized and will be released for public comment.
- The DBE does not have a record of school days that were lost for learners as a result of their inability to access schools due to harsh weather conditions.
- The DBE does not keep such a record.