The Western Cape Policy for the Management of Admission and Registration of Learners at Ordinary Public Schools states in Section 6 that “Schools may not use the academic performance of learners to determine admission to a school.”

In other words, schools in The Cape are not allowed to consider a learner’s academic performance—whether high or low—when making admission decisions.

We all know where this leads. On the surface, it might sound like a good idea, but in reality, it’s disastrous for academic performance. There’s no neutrality when it comes to academics.

Research generally shows little effect for academic selection on overall outcomes, but it is of enormous benefit to smarter students, who can receive an academic environment where they can excel. By destroying the opportunities for the best, the WCED is not serving the rest, merely acting out of spite to impose some abstract notion of equality - much like the ANC.

Either the school is geared to drive high academic achievement—where admissions based on academic performance are essential—or it’s not, and academic standards begin to deteriorate. Unless, of course, you lower the pass rate, change the curriculum, or manipulate in other ways just to maintain the appearance of success.

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No Family Interviews in Admissions

In the same document, section 6 states that, “Schools should not use interviews with parents or learners prior to the admission of the learner as a form of screening, except for learners with learning barriers...”

Although the use of a conditional imperative in the phrase phrase "should not use" leaves room for interpretation, the message is clear. Principals should not meet with parents or learners before admission — and in the case of my child in primary school, this was exactly how it worked. We did not meet the principal before admission.

Some argue that this is a good policy. But by preventing schools from screening families before admission, the ability to ensure that only those who are genuinely committed to the school community are accepted is undermined. This, in turn, weakens the school itself. Strong schools rely heavily on the involvement and dedication of families who actively support the school’s vision and values.

In this sense, the DA are finding a back door to achieving the destruction of the elite schools which the ANC pushed for with the BELA Act.

This concern is even more relevant given the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) recent announcement that it plans to cut 2,400 teaching posts effective January 1, 2025. The reason? A significant R3.8 billion budget shortfall over the next three years, due to lack of control of the provincial budget - they need the permission of the National Treasury.

But this presented a golden opportunity. By cutting the teachers' posts according to performance, they could unequivocally benefitted pupils by removing the worst teachers. Instead, the DA has chosen a more socialist approach - retrenching at random, so that nobody has their self-esteem hurt.

In this context, schools don’t just need the financial contributions of parents—which is hard enough in an environment where the South African government is increasingly hostile to meaningful economic growth and to the middle class in particular. They also need parents’ involvement and commitment to the daily life of the school. Schools must know the families they admit!

By banning pre-admission screening of parents and learners, the WCED is putting the future of schools at risk. Fortunately, many schools are finding ways to work around this bad policy—but the question is, for how long?

What's worse, the WCED has periodically insisted on welcoming transgenderism and Critical Race Theory training into schools, and only retreating temporarily when placed under public scrutiny. The Fish Hoek High School debacle, where a department-appointed black nationalist took the white kids aside to teach them in a mandatorily attended lecture why they carried the burden of their ancestors' evil for eternity, is a sign of profound rot in the department. Worse, according to party members, the then-head of the WCED Debbie Shaeffer, didn't even read the policy she signed.

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The Way Forward

It’s clear that there are forces at play seeking to undermine academic excellence and successful schools. However, we believe our local schools should have the freedom to make their own decisions—about who they hire, who they let go, and who they admit.

It’s time to take the gloves off and find bold, creative ways to push back against these misguided policies, just as our ancestors once did. We have the wind in our sails since our enemies are disorganized.

Let’s focus on building strong, thriving schools grounded in academic excellence and active family involvement.

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