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Media Release

19 May, 2009

Learner transport policy review

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is finalising a review of learner transport policy in the province.

The department published a draft policy as part of the review in Provincial Gazette 6616 on 27 March 2009 and called for comment.

The department inherited policy on learner transport from the former House of Representatives when education departments merged to form the WCED in 1995.

The WCED amended the policy over the years to meet changing circumstances and decided to review changes to date in 2005 to produce a single, consolidated policy to provide clear criteria for providing learner transport. The department has consulted stake holders widely since then.

The WCED provides transport to learners from poor communities who live more than five kilometres from their nearest school and who do not have access to public transport.

Recent additions to the scheme include transport for Grade R learners in a pilot project in the Eden/Karoo and West Coast education districts, to test demand and any operational issues.

The WCED currently provides transport for 47 712 learners every school day. The department invested R125.8 million in learner transport in the Western Cape during the 2008/09 financial year.

This investment included R112.4 million in 473 contracts with bus companies last year to provide transport for learners. The department also provided R13.4 million directly to schools to arrange their own transport.

Schools in the southern Cape and the West Coast have registered 358 Grade R learners for transport so far. Bus contractors started providing the transport for Grade R learners in February this year.

The deadline for comment on the policy is 30 May 2009. The policy will apply to public schools and learner attending these schools from 1 January 2010.



Issued by:
Paddy Attwell
Director: Communication
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 021 467 2531
Fax: 021 461 3694
Email: pattwell@pgwc.gov.za

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