FORCED ADMISSION OF
LEARNERS FOR 2024
NN 1/2024
The SAOU has taken note that problems regarding the timeous admission of learners for the 2024 school year are still experienced. Furthermore, it was noted that the respective provincial departments of education are loath to negotiate the admission of learners with school governing bodies and that they prefer to exert pressure on school principals. In terms of the SA Schools Act the admission of learners are dealt with in terms of the relevant school’s admission policy. Be attentive to the fact that the SA Schools Act still applies. Departmental officials may attempt to abuse the envisaged amendments to admission and language policy as contemplated in BELA to compel principals to admit learners without proper consultation with the school governing body (SGB). Such actions are impermissible. It remains a competency of the relevant school’s school governing body. The principal has no role to play.
Principal’s must also refer all enquiries and instructions to unilaterally enlarge school capacity to the SGB for appropriate consideration.
The SAOU addressed a circular on 29 November 2022 (click here) to school principals in regard to the proposed approach when such an incident occurs. The following advice is submitted in this regard:
1. That a thorough study of the contents must be made;
2. To enable the SAOU to provide timeous and appropriate advice, to contact the relevant SAOU provincial secretary as soon as possible in the event that unreasonable/unlawful pressure is exerted; and
3. To immediately contact the relevant chairperson of the school governing body and the school governing body organisation to which the school is affiliated.
In addition to the above the SAOU informed principals on 11 October 2023 regarding the factors that play a role in determining school capacity. This is based on a court judgement in favour of the SAOU. The provincial education department may no longer determine capacity arbitrarily. (click here)
GEMS MEDICAL SUBSIDY
The SAOU received numerous enquiries regarding the 9,5% increase of GEMS premiums. We draw attention to the following:
- The increase of medical schemes’ premiums is not subject to collective bargaining and thus cannot be renegotiated in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). The SAOU cannot mislead our members and create hope with unfounded information.
- The Medical Schemes Act determines that the GEMS Board of Trustees determines the annual premium increase based on the financial position of the scheme as determined by the following factors namely, the claims ratio, the particular option’s richness of benefits and the level of the Scheme's reserve fund.
- The premium increases were communicated to every GEMS member during October 2023 by the Scheme.
- The SAOU will communicate with the GEMS Board of Trustees in the immediate future to draw their attention to the negative effect of the higher-than-expected increases.
The adjusted medical employer subsidy for public servants was circulated via Circular 48 of 2023, dated 8 December 2023 by the Department of Public Service and Administration. The increase of the employer subsidy with effect from 1 January 2024 is 6%. In this regard, the following must be noted:
- The implementation of the increased subsidy is administered by the relevant provincial department of education and financed from the operational budget.
- As a result of over-expenditure by all provincial departments, problems may be expected.
- The SAOU provincial offices are ready to assist with any queries that may arise. Members are invited to contact our offices immediately in the event of uncertainty and problems.
Here below an extract from said DPSA circular.
GEDWONGE TOELATING VAN LEERDERS VIR 2024
Die SAOU het reeds kennis geneem dat daar in alle provinsies probleme ondervind word met die tydige inskrywing van leerders vir die 2024 skooljaar. Verder is kennis ook geneem dat die onderskeie provinsiale onderwysdepartemente nie graag met beheerliggame oor die toelating van leerders wil onderhandel nie en dat daar eerder gepoog word om druk op skoolhoofde uit te oefen. Ingevolge die SA Skolewet word die toelating van leerders tot ‘n bepaalde skool ingevolge die skool se toelatingsbeleid beheer en bestuur. Wees bedag daarop dat die huidige SA Skolewet steeds geld en dat amptenare wat skoolhoofde wil afdreig met die beoogde wysiging aan toelatings- en taal beleid soos vervat in BELA dit voortydig doen en geen voet het om op te staan nie. Dit bly steeds ‘n bevoegdheid van die betrokke beheerliggaam. Die skoolhoof het geen rol te speel nie.
Skoolhoofde moet alle navrae en opdragte wat die eensydige verhoging van skoolkapasiteit aan hulle opdwing na die skoolbeheerliggaam verwys vir gepaste oorweging.
Die SAOU het reeds op 29 November 2022 ‘n omsendskrywe (klik hier) aan skoolhoofde gerig betreffende die voorgestelde hanteringswyse. Die volgende word in dié verband aanbeveel:
1. Dat ‘n deeglike studie van die inhoud gemaak word;
2. Om so gou doenlik met die betrokke SAOU provinsiale sekretaris in verbinding te tree indien daar onredelike/onregmatige druk op die skoolhoof uitgeoefen word ten einde die SAOU in staat te stel om tydige en gepaste advies te voorsien; en
3. Onverwyld met die tersaaklike voorsitter van die beheerliggaam en die betrokke beheerliggaam organisasie in verbinding te tree.
Verder het die SAOU ook skoolhoofde op 11 Oktober 2023 ingelig rakende die hofsaak wat die SAOU insake kapasiteitsbepaling van skole gewen het. Die provinsiale onderwys departement (POD) mag nie meer eensydig en lukraak kapasiteit (arbitrêr) bepaal en afdwing nie
(kliek hier).
MEDIESE SUBSIDIE
Verskeie navrae insake die 9,5% premieverhoging vir GEMS lede is deur die SAOU ontvang. Die volgende word onder u aandag gebring:
- Die premieverhoging is nie onderhewig aan enige kollektiewe onderhandelinge nie en kan nie deur onderhandelinge in die Staatsdiens Koördinerende Bedingingsraad (PSCBC) heronderhandel word nie. Die SAOU kan nie ons lede mislei deur valse hoop te skep nie.
- Die Wet op Mediese Skemas bepaal dat die GEMS Raad van Trustees ooreenkomstig die finansiële posisie van die skema besluite oor die toepaslike opsie se verhoging moet neem met inagneming van die betrokke opsie se eiseverhouding, die rykheid van voordele en die reserwevlak van die skema.
- Gedurende Oktober 2023 het GEMS die beoogde premieverhogings aan elke GEMS-lid gekommunikeer.
- Die SAOU sal onverwyld met die GEMS Raad van Trustees kommunikeer om die hoër as verwag premieverhogings se negatiewe impak onder hulle aandag te bring.
Die aangepaste werkgewersubsidie is in Omsendbrief 48 van 2023 van die Departement van Openbare Diens en Administrasie (DPSA) op 8 Desember 2023 versprei, nl: dat 'n 6% verhoging met ingang van 1 Januarie 2024 geld. Daar moet egter van die volgende kennis geneem word:
- Die implimentering van die verhoogde subsidie is die verantwoordelikheid van die betrokke provinsiale departement van onderwys en word uit die bestaande bedryfsbegroting gefinansier.
- As gevolg van die tekorte op die begrotings van alle provinsiale departemente van onderwys mag daar probleme met implementering ondervind word.
- Die SAOU se provinsiale kantore staan gereed om lede by te staan indien onsekerheid bestaan of probleme ondervind word.
Hieronder ‘n uittreksel uit die betrokke DPSA- omsendbrief.
Salarisonderhandelinge Terugvoer – Lede Mandatering | Salary Negotiations Response – Member Mandates
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