A looming financial crisis is threatening the survival of an independent centre of education excellence in rural Limpopo.
Khanyisa Education Centre, which- is located outside Giyani, relies on the modest fees it charges and the subsidy it gets from the provincial education department to survive.
However, recent changes in the subsidy category policy for independent schools has resulted in Khanyisa losing the annual R232 000 it had previously received.
Khanyisa opened in 1989 and offers schooling from pre-primary to Grade 12. It boasts modern boarding facilities, a high-tech science laboratory, a swimming pool and well-maintained soccer and cricket fields. The school follows the national curriculum but puts more emphasis on mathematics and science.
Learners enthusiasm for their school is a testament to the quality on offer. Nyiko Mavundza and Robin Matthew, both in Grade 10, enrolled with Khanyisa because of its excellent academic record.
It is such a great feeling to be part of this institution. We all want to be part of its good reputation, says Mavundza.
I live in Malamulele, which is about 35km from the centre, says Matthew. I came here in 1995 because of its good reputation in producing good results in this region. It really feels great to be part of it.
But, unless the schools fortunes improve, these learners may have to seek alternatives.
Hein Weber, head of the centres secondary school, says that in terms of the new re-categorisation system, subsidies will depend on school fees. The centre recently increased its fees the highest being R15 000 for Grade 12 an unavoidable move, says Weber, given the costs that come with providing quality education. It is very costly to run an independent outfit such as Khanyisa, where 78% of our budget goes towards staff salaries, says Weber. He says Khanyisa has always scored a matric pass rate of between 80% and 99%.
And, because in the past years we have been at the lowest subsidy level [of 15%], the increase puts the secondary school out of the subsidy bracket altogether, says Weber.
Weber claims the re-categorisation process has not been properly handled. Not all independent schools have been informed about the subsidy because of the poor flow of information, especially at circuit offices. In fact, the National Council of Independent Schools has called on the minister [of education] to put the process on hold as it amounts to administrative injustice because it is being applied unevenly. Secondly, we are not sure if the provincial government is applying the formula correctly, says Weber.
But Ndo Mangala, the provincial education departments representative, says the information is available on request and the process is being well handled. He says that Limpopos annual budget allocation for independent schools is R28-million.
Khanyisas primary school will still qualify for the 15% subsidy. But principal Ebert le Roux says this is too little for basic operational costs. We are not like other independent facilities that serve wealthy communities, says Le Roux. Its a catch-22 situation: if you dont increase the fees you collapse, but you increase the fees, your enrolment shrinks, and still you dont have sufficient resources to maintain the standards.
Le Roux says the area is not only economically deprived, but also without good public schools. If schools in the area were functioning properly, we all admit there would not be a need for Khanyisa. But why close the school that is serving that developmental role?
Le Roux says the primary school is operating at a loss, with a budget deficit of R330 000 this financial year. If things do not improve, the school may be forced to consider a few radical options, which Le Roux is not willing to discuss. Hopefully we will not get to implement them as they have the potential to negatively affect learners and teachers, he says.