Overview of Special Schools in Gauteng & Readiness Amid COVID-19
A comprehensive look at special schools in Gauteng, outlining their role in providing specialized education programs for learners with diverse needs. The National Policy on Screening, Identification, Assessment, and Support is explained, detailing the admission process, resources available, and the broader goal of inclusive education. The document emphasizes the importance of equipping all public schools to accommodate learners from various backgrounds, promoting social cohesion.
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AN OVERVIEW OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN GAUTENG AND THE READINESS OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE LEARNERS: COVID-19 20 AUGUST 2020
What is a Special School? National Policy on the Screening, Identification, Assessment and Support (SIAS, 2014), defines Special Schools as schools being equipped to deliver a specialised education programme to learners requiring access to high- intensive educator and other support either on a full-time or part-time basis. The curriculum offering may differ from the ordinary CAPS; There is access to the appropriate Learning and Teaching Support Material and assistive devices required to access the curriculum and other sport or cultural activities at the school; and The additional support at these schools may include, therapists, support staff and nurses. The placement of a learner in a specialised setting to access support provisions is a last resort and should also not be seen as permanent. Where possible, learners may reintegrate into a mainstream school. This is mostly in the case of learners with learning disabilities. Inclusive education advocates for the resourcing an capacity building in all public schools that will allow all learners to attend school together with children in the community: towards social cohesion.
Admission to a Special School The SIAS Policy provides a standardised procedure to provide support to all learners who require additional support to enhance their participation and inclusion in school. This procedure includes admission to a Special School Admission to a special school happens in two ways: Parents request admission to a special school from the onset o A learner is born with a disability that requires high levels of support at school e.g. severe physical disability, deaf, blind, autism with his support needs, profound intellectual disability etc. o Parents work with the District Based Support Team (DBST) to provide the required medical/diagnostic reports o Placement in an appropriate special school is formalised provincially (DBE 123b form, SIAS) Learner starts in an ordinary school o The teacher identifies the learner s challenges and School Based Support Team (SBST) to support the learner o If the SBST support is unsuccessful, the DBST conducts further formal assessments to confirm a disability and support needs o The parents work with the DBST to provide all required documents o Placement in an appropriate special school is formalised (DBE 123b form, SIAS) works with the provincially
Resources in a Special School Description Infrastructure Status 1 Infrastructure planning receives an annual profile of infrastructural needs based on School Readiness findings, admission pressures, curriculum needs e.g. workshops, hostel requirements, requirements, requirements to extend infrastructure at current special schools. Currently two special schools are in advanced stages of replacement (asbestos schools): Dr WK du Plessis (GE) and Rotara (GW). Tlhokomelo (JW) is earmarked for major refurbishment Budget vote: Programme 4. R 364 396 069 for curriculum delivery, hostels, redress, LTSM, therapeutic resources e.g. assistive devices. R 161,151,000 for Transport. HR: Organisation Development applies the Personnel Administration Measures (PAM) within a context of a limited budget maintenance 2 Funding for the 2020/21 financial year 3 Educators
Resources in a Special School Description Therapists and support staff Status Development 4 HR: Personnel Administration Measures (PAM) within a context of a limited budget. In addition class assistants are appointed to support learners with physical disabilities, autism with high support needs as well as learners who are blind and deaf. In addition at least 1 nurse is appointed at special schools (excluding hospital schools) with an additional nurse where schools have hostels. Organisation applies the
Resources in a Special School Description Transport Status 5 Transport subsidy is specifically earmarked to ensure that learners have access to education by means of daily transport to and from school. Once of Allocation determined as follows: Newly established Special Schools to be provided with additional funding to establish transport fleets; Special Schools requiring vehicles to be adapted for physical disabilities to receive additional funding to ensure vehicles accessible for learners with physical disabilities; and Schools with newly established ASD units to receive additional funding to expand transport services. Normal transport allocation to be used for: Daily operational costs of fleet: fuel, toll gates, licensing of vehicles, PDP licenses, Maintenance, etc
Curriculum offerings in Special Schools Most special schools offer more than 1 curriculum to include learners as far as possible, e.g. at a school for the deaf, some learners might follow the ordinary CAPS whilst other learners who are deaf but also have intellectual challenges follow the Differentiated CAPS for Severe Intellectual Disability. Currently the following 4 curriculums are implemented: Ordinary CAPS: the learners complete the National Senior Certificate; Technical Occupation Curriculum: learners with mild to moderate intellectual disability of learners not coping with ordinary CAPS due to the impact of the deafness, blindness, physical disability or specific learning disabilities. This curriculum is a 4-year programme (equal to Grades 6-9) starting in the year the learner turns 15. Most schools who receive learners turning 14 implement the Grade 5 section of the D-CAPS to ensure that leaners are on Grade 6 level in Year 1; Differentiated CAPS for learners with severe intellectual disabilities. This also includes learners with autism who have high support needs. This 14 - year curriculum concludes on a Grade 5/6 level; and Learning programme for learners disabilities goes to a pre-Grade R/Grade R level with profound intellectual
Special Schools in Gauteng North Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning number 20 Programme PROTEM LSEN SCHOOL SIZANANI Child and Youth Care Centre X X 198 Severe Intellectual Mild to Moderate Intellectual X X
Special Schools in Tshwane North Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning number Programme ALMASKOOL 352 Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Physical Disability X X DOMINICAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 314 Deaf X X X MAGALIES SPECIAL SCHOOL 675 Mild to moderate Intellectual X PHELANG SPECIAL SCHOOL 173 Severe Intellectual X PROSPECTUS NOVUSSKOOL 353 Specific learning Autism X X TSOSOLOSO SCHOOL 171 Child and Youth Care Centre X
Special Schools in Tshwane South Institution Name Learner number 72 Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning Programme PRETORIA HOSP Hospital school X KALAFONG HOSP 177 Hospital school X KWAGGASRAND MAMELODI PRE VOCATIONAL NUWE HOOPSKOOL SONITUSSKOOL 525 326 Mild to moderate Intellectual Mild to moderate Intellectual X X 428 Physical disaiblity Specific learning Hearing impaired Mild to Moderal Intellectual Severe Intellectual Mild to moderate Intellectual X X X 312 X X X OLIEVENHOUTBO SCH SUNRISE TRANSORANJE 149 X 155 206 Severe Intellectual Deaf X X X X TRANSVALIA TSHEGOFATSONG 424 UNICASKOOL VIA NOVA 390 Specific Learning Severe Intellectual / Autism Autism Severe Intellectual / Profound Intellectual / Autism Severe Intellectual / Autism X X X X 119 522 X ZODWA 197 X
Special Schools in Tshwane West Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning number 67 Programme BAFITI SPECIAL SCHOOL BETHESDA Specific Learning X 223 Severe Intellectual Autism Mild to moderate Intellectual Hospital school X DA MOKOMA 133 X DR GEORGE MUKHARI FILADELFIA 160 X 399 Physical disablility Deaf/Hearing Impaired Blind/Low vision Sevre Intellectual Autism Physical disablility X X MEDICOS 420 X PRETORIASKOOL VIR SEREBRAAL GESTREMDES PRINSHOF 383 X X 444 Blind Low vision Severe Intellectual X X X REINOTSWE 243 X SUIDERBERG 674 Mild to moderate Intellectual X
Special Schools in Ekurhuleni North Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D- Learning Programme number 476 CAPS ACTONVILLE TRAINING CENTRE BELVEDERESKO OL CON AMORE Severe Intellectual X X 662 Mild to moderate Intellectual X X 366 Severe Intellectual Autism X X ECALENI 358 Sevre Intellectual Autism Mild to moderate Intellectual Child and Youth Care Centre X ELANDSPARK IKWEZI- KHANYENG 782 51 X X ITHEMBALIHLE KEMPTON PANORAMA NORMAN HOUSE 75 SOZIZWE THEMBINKOSI FOR SMH USIZO LWETHU 332 655 Physical disablility Mild to moderate Intellectual X X X X X Child and Youth Care Centre Mild to moderate Intellectual Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Severe Intellectual Autism X 496 447 X X 439 X
Special Schools in Ekurhuleni South Institution Name Learner number DUKHATOLE 301 Severe Intellectual Autism EKURHULENI SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF EZIBELENI SCHOOL FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED CHILDREN Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning Programme X 303 Deaf X X X 173 Physical disability X X X X ISIPHO SETHU SCHOOL 543 Mild to moderate Intellectual Severe Intellectual X X SAMSON 332 Mild to Moderate Intellectual X SCHOOL OF ACHIEVEMENT 792 Specific Learning X X ZIMELENI SCHOOL349 Severe Intellectual X
Special Schools in Gauteng East Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning number 484 Programme DR. W.K. DU PLESSIS-SKOOL Specific Learning X FELICITASSKOOL / SCHOOL 530 Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Autism X X KWA-THEMA LSEN SCHOOL 475 Mild to moderate Intellectual X MATSHEDISO 282 Severe Intellectual X MURIEL BRANDSKOOL 452 Physical disability Specific learning X X X OLYMPIA PARKSKOOL 504 Mild to moderate Intellectual X X PHELANG 327 Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Autism Specific Learning X X PROTEASKOOL / SCHOOL 463 X
Special Schools in Sedibeng East Institution Name Learner number Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPSLearning Programme DESTINATASKOOL 475 EUREKASKOOL Specific learning Severe Intellectual Autism Child and Youth Care Centre X 474 X X HO RSKOOL EMMASDAL 43 X X HO RSKOOL J.W. LUCKHOFF 96 Child and Youth Care Centre X X KRUGERLAANSKO OL 529 Mild to moderate Intellectual X SIBONILE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND 207 Blind Low vision X X SPRINGFIELD 256 Mild to moderate Intellectual X QHAQHOLLA 167 Mild to moderate Intellectual X
Special Schools in Sedibeng West Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning number Programme DIE ANKERSKOOL MOFOLO PRIMARY SCHOOL SEBOKENG TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL 724 Mild to moderate Intellectual Mild to moderate Intellectual X 310 X 392 Mild to moderate Intellectual X THABO-VUYO 352 Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Autism X X
Special Schools in Gauteng West Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning number 215 402 301 Programme BOITEKO GOUDWES ITIRELENG Severe Intellectual Mild to moderate Intellectual Severe Intellectual X X X ITUMELENG SCHOOL 244 Severe Intellectual Mild to Moderate Intellectual X X X PRO-PRACTICUM SCHOOL CURAMUS 663 Mild to moderate Intellectual X 152 Severe Intellectual Autism Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Autism Physical Disability X ROTARASKOOL 165 X WESRANDSE SKOOL 290 X X X
Special Schools in Johannesburg Central Institution Name Learner number ADELAIDE TAMBO SCHOOL BARAGWANATH HOSPITAL SCHOOL DON MATTERRA 200 Severe Intellectual FUTURASKOOL 339 Severe Intellectual Mild to Moderate Intellectual Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPSLearning Programme X 399 Physical Disability X X 175 Hospital school X X X X MOHATO 81 Autism X PHILIP KUSHLICK352 Physical disaiblity X X X PHIRI SPECIAL SCHOOL RANDEORSKOOL689 315 Severe Intellectual X Mild to moderate intellectual X WHITE CITY SKILLS SCHOOL WINNIE MANDELA 201 Mild to moderate Intellectual X 464 Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual X X
Special Schools in Johannesburg East Institution Name Learner number 193 Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning Programme DOUG WHITEHEAD FOREST TOWN SCHOOL GRESSWOLD SENIOR SCHOOL H. MOROSS ADOLESCENT SCHOOL HOPE SCHOOL/SKOOL JOHANNESBURG HOSPITAL SCHOOL JOHANNESBURG SCHOOL FOR AUTISM NOKUTHULA SCHOOL Severe Intellectual X 344 Physical disability X X X 667 Mild to moderate Intellectual X 18 Hospital school X 198 Physical disability X 76 Hospital school X 319 Autism X 434 Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Autism Hospital school Deaf X X SIZWE HOSPITAL 4 ST VINCENT X X 365 X X
Special Schools in Johannesburg North Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPSLearning Programme X number 181 CASA DO SOL SCHOOL Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Autism Severe Intellectual Autism X CORONATION TRAINING CENTRE DELTAPARKSKO OL ELITHENI 177 X 534 Specific Learning X 108 Mild to moderate Intellectual Autism X X GOUDVELD NEW NATION SCHOOL RANDBURG CLINIC SCHOOL TAKALANI 560 532 Mild to moderate Intellectual Psycho-Social X X 154 Autism Behaviour Disorder Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Autism Child and Youth Care Centre X X 306 X X WALTER SISULU CHILD AND YOUTH CARE CENTRE 117 X X
Special Schools in Johannesburg South Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning number Programme DUZENDLELA 389 Mild to moderate Intellectual Severe Intellectual Physical disability Specific learning X X FRANCES VORWERGSKOO L JISWA TRAINING CENTRE 368 X X X X 490 Severe Intellectual Profound Intellectual Autism X X MCK SPECIAL SCHOOL 416 Mild to moderate Intellectual Deaf X X TAMARISK SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR AUTISM 60 Autism X THE HAMLET SCHOOL 342 Severe Intellectual X
Special Schools in Johannesburg West Institution Name Learner Needs CAPS TOC D-CAPS Learning number 296 Programme ALBERTINA SISULU SPECIAL SCHOOL LANTERNSKOOL 674 Physical disability X X X Specific learning X MEZODO VOCATIONAL SKILLS CENTRE PUMLA SCHOOL 384 ROODEPARKSKO OL 215 Mild to moderate Intellectual X Severe Intellectual Mild to moderate Intellectual X 742 X SIZWILE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 259 Deaf X X X THE GATEWAY SCHOOL 376 Severe Intellectual Autism X THULASIZWE 78 Autism X TLHOKOMELO 130 Specific learning Hearing impaired X
Challenges and mitigation Challenge Infrastructural demands in pressure areas, delays in renovation and maintenance Admission demands. Currently 580 learners on the waiting list of which 5 is out of school. This number also includes learners to move to the school of choice. Mitigation Annual review of infrastructural needs: submission to Infrastructure Planning. 1 2 Maintain a provincial waiting list and deal with placement on a weekly basis in terms of spaces that become available. Facilitate interim support in ordinary of Full Service Schools Prioritise out of school learners Commenced consultation to convert 2 primary schools to Special Schools: -JW Dr Mary Mahlalela Primary -TN Dolopye Primary Participate in national steering committee to determine National Regulations for Special School hostels. 3 Special School hostels: infrastructure, funding and HR provisioning
Challenges and mitigation Challenge Limited funding does not allow for appointment of required therapists/support staff Transport Mitigation Allocate therapists and support staff for learners with most critical support needs. 4 5 Despite all increased support, there is still a great demand for more support. Learner transport Directorate started including schools in public learner transport where learners can travel independently.
Government Gazette 43578 of 2020 THE READINESS OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR LSEN TO RECEIVE LEARNERS ON 24 AUGUST 2020
Return schedule of learners as per Government Gazette 43578 of 2020 Date Technical Occupation Curriculum /School of D-CAPS for Severe Intellectual Disability Learning Programme for Profound Intellectual Disability CAPS Expected return dates of learners: Gov Gazette 43578 (2/8/2020) Skill Year 4 3-7 AUG 2020 Grade 12 Grade 7 11-14 AUG 2020 Skills Year 1,2,3 Grades R, 1,2 & 3 Years 1,2 & 3 Grades R,1,2,3,4,6,9,10 &11 24 AUG 2020 Year 1 (Orientation Year 1 which equals D- CAPS Grade 5) Grades 4 & 5 Grades 5 & 8 31 August 2020 26
Special schools: LSENs readiness to receive learners on 24 Aug 2020 Currently CAPS Grades 7 and 12 as well as the Technical Occupational Curriculum (TOC) Year 4 returned according to Government Gazette 43578 of 2020. o 21 Special Schools following CAPS have received learners between 4-12 Aug 2020 o 22 Special Schools with TOC Year 4 learners received learners between 4-12 Aug 2020 113 of the 124 Special Schools reported readiness to open for learners on 24 August 2020. There are 8 schools at current academic hospitals where learners have a long stay due to illness or rehabilitation. Hospitals not comfortable for hospital school educators to visit learners in wards. Teachers support learners with activities that can be handed out. o There are 2 special schools with infrastructural challenges (Sizwile JW municipality not resolving sewerage flooding in the area polluting school and Mofolo SW severe vandalism) o 1 Special School requested to open for all grades on 31 August 2020 Winnie Madikizela Mandela in JC o
Special schools: LSENs readiness to receive learners on 24 Aug 2020 Projected Learner Return number for 24 August 2020 is 28 631 of the current 41 131 LSEN : o 1 244 will not return (3 schools with challenges and 8 hospital schools o 2 178 learners will not return due to reported comorbidities o 9 078 learners are expected not to return due to other reasons e.g. parental fear etc as well as being part of the grades to phase in on 31 August 2020 Preparations are underway to comply with the return of learners expected on 24 Aug 2020: o Finalising delivery of required PPE o Supporting Special Schools with restructuring of timetables and transport routes o Reporting and addressing infrastructural challenges o Deploying Youth Brigade members in Special Schools that expressed a need
Special schools: LSENs readiness to receive learners on 24 Aug 2020 Curriculum offering Number of schools offering the curriculum Number of schools ready to implement as per regulations Comments CAPS 31 30 Sizwile School for the Deaf not opening Technical Occupational Curriculum 42 40 Traditionally schools of skill exclusively offered this curriculum. It is widely offered in Special Schools e.g. Schools for Deaf etc. Sizwile School for the Deaf and Mofolo not opening Differentiated CAPS for learners with Severe Intellectual Disability 61 60 Winnie Madikizela not opening This includes learners in Autism-specific schools or Autism-specific units Learning Programme for learners with Profound Intellectual Disabilities 11 11 Schools are ready to receive. Due to the nature of learners most will learn from home due to comorbidities
Special schools with hostels: Readiness to receive learners Number of schools with hostels audited Number of facilities will be able to comply with social distancing when all learners are back Measures that have been put in to address needs in hostels that can not comply with social distancing Special School Hostels for LSEN readiness to receive learners 31 31 Reprioritisation of hostel spaces to increase the number of learners that can be accommodated .i.e. converting TV rooms in to dormitory rooms Aligning school staggering time table with hostel schedule. Learners attend school for a week and reside in hostel for a week and at home the following week Expansion of daily learner transport services to reduce the number of learners requiring to reside in the hostel
Curriculum support to Special Schools: Alternative Curriculums The Inclusion and Special Schools Directorate updates and add links to support Special Schools offering the Differentiated CAPS for learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities, the Technical Occupational Curriculum and the Learning Programme for Learners with Profound Intellectual Disabilities. It includes curriculum content and lesson plans. TECHNICAL OCCUPATIONAL DIFFERENTIATED CAPS GRADE R-5 SID LEARNING PROGRAMMES FOR PID https://education.gauteng.gov.za Select the folder titled: Technical Occupational Curriculum for Special Schools https://education.gauteng.gov.za Select the folder titled: DCAPS Gr R-5 for Severe Intellectual Disabilities https://drive.google.com/drive/fold ers/1QQgJUt1ZcqMqViyKmwdWa- dbjA2zLBau?usp=sharing Or use this link https://education.gauteng.gov.za/Pages/ Technical-Occupational-Curriculum-for- Special-Schools.aspx Or use this link https://education.gauteng.gov.za/Pages/D CAPS-Gr-R-5-Severe-Intellectual- Disabilities.aspx
Challenges that could hamper the return of LSEN to Special Schools The following challenges impacts on the return of LSEN to all Special Schools on the 24th of August 2020: o There are schools operating at institutions of the Department of Social Development. The DoSD are currently not placing learners in Child and Youth Care Centres or Secure Care Centres. Whilst the schools might be operational, the learner number will decline o Schools temporarily closed due to reported COVID-19 cases o PPE delivery still in process (it is anticipated that the deliver will be concluded by 24 Aug 2020) o Vandalism and infrastructure challenges: Infrastructure is dealing with these challenges
