A mother in Delft is advocating for her 12-year-old son, who is on a waiting list for a special needs school. The mother of a 12-year-old boy has expressed frustration while he has been placed on a waiting list for a Special Needs School (LSEN), citing that while being at a mainstream school in Delft, he continues to battle academically and socially. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) revealed it had a waiting list and applications are reviewed monthly.
Millicent Merton of the WCED explained the process of placement: “The learner enrolments in Special Needs schools are still to be determined. “To expand access and reduce barriers to placement, the WCED is systematically transforming public ordinary schools into inclusive schools, enabling learners to receive support closer to where they live.” She said in 2025, the WCED accommodated approximately 17 300 learners with special educational needs in 1 326 public ordinary schools across the province through various mainstream and inclusive support structures. In 2022, the boy was seen by the school psychologist and last year a doctor’s recommendation strongly suggested that he be placed at a special needs school. The mother told Cape Argus she had been advocating for years for her son and emailing the WCED with letters and last year an application was finally submitted for 2026’s intake.
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